【December 2025 Edition】Top 3 Recommended Tattoo Schools｜Discover the Benefits of Learning at a Tattoo School and How to Choose One!

In the past, the standard path to becoming a fully fledged tattoo artist was to apprentice under a master and endure many years of strict training.

However, in recent years, tattoo schools where you can systematically learn from active professionals have appeared across Japan, and an environment is emerging where you can quickly start working as an artist.

By studying at a school where professional tattoo artists give direct instruction, even beginners can efficiently and safely acquire both skills and knowledge.

This article explains why more people are attending tattoo schools, the advantages of schools that self-study cannot offer, and how to choose the right school without making mistakes.

It will also introduce three recommended tattoo schools so you can find the one that suits you best and take your first step toward becoming a professional!

Why more people attend tattoo schools In recent years, prejudice against tattoos has eased, and as K-pop idols and celebrities have started getting tattoos more casually, the number of people who want to become tattoo artists has also increased.

This section introduces the reasons why more people are choosing to attend tattoo schools.

Because the tattoo market is expected to grow Right now, the tattoo market is expected to grow, driven in part by influencers getting small point tattoos.

Especially among younger generations, very few people still hold prejudice against tattoos, and more and more treat them casually as a part of fashion.

The tattooed population in Japan has almost doubled between 2014 and 2025, and it is expected to continue increasing in the future.

Of course, the more people who want to get tattooed, the greater the demand for tattoo artists, so attending a tattoo school now and becoming a tattoo artist in advance is a smart decision.

As the market heats up like this, more people feel there is a promising future in this field and aim to become tattoo artists, which in turn increases the number of applicants to tattoo schools.

Because a high income is possible Tattoo artists can aim for a high income depending on their skills.

For popular tattoo artists, it is not uncommon to earn tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand yen from a single session.

They can also open up additional income streams such as selling original merchandise, sponsorships, and holding seminars, so the more they hone their craft, the more earning opportunities they create.

Recently, many studios are increasing their visibility by showing the artist’s face on social media, and by gaining fans, they can potentially earn without an upper limit.

Because even beginners have a chance to succeed The tattoo industry is increasingly open to people starting with no prior experience.

In the past, the mainstream route was to become a live-in apprentice to learn the craft, but today more people start their careers by learning the basics at a school and then turning pro.

Tattoo schools provide careful instruction to those with little drawing experience or people changing careers from other industries, so even those starting from zero can feel secure.

In fact, many graduates find jobs at studios or work as apprentices to gain on-site experience and eventually make their professional debut.

Benefits of tattoo school over self-study Aiming to become a tattoo artist through self-study is a high hurdle, but learning at a school offers many advantages beyond just learning how to tattoo.

This section introduces the benefits of learning at a tattoo school.

Learn hygiene control and law, which are hard to study alone Tattooing is a process of inserting ink into the skin using needles, so knowledge of hygiene control and relevant laws is essential.

For example, there is a wide range of topics you must understand, including how to sterilize equipment, measures to prevent infectious diseases, and how tattoos relate to medical laws and local regulations.

It is difficult to systematically acquire this kind of specialized knowledge on your own, but tattoo schools include it in their curriculum so you can properly learn about correct hygiene management and legal compliance.

This also helps you demonstrate to clients that you run a studio safely, which is a huge asset for your future activities.

Build a community with classmates and instructors By attending a tattoo school, you can build a community with classmates who share the same goal and with studio-owner instructors.

When studying alone, it is easy to get stuck with worries by yourself, but with classmates you can share information and encourage each other, making it easier to overcome challenges.

From school instructors, you can receive not only technical guidance but also insider stories about the industry and advice on studios to work at after graduation, allowing your network to expand while you are still in school.

Because the tattoo industry especially values in-person human relationships, being able to build these connections in advance is a major advantage of attending a school.

Get studio placement support after the course Some tattoo schools offer substantial support in introducing graduates to studios after they complete their course.

In some cases, they help pave the way to a professional debut, such as recommending students as apprentices to partner tattoo studios.

If you study on your own, you have to promote yourself directly to studios and build clientele via the internet from scratch.

However, by leveraging the network of instructors and the school itself, you can build connections within the industry and start your career after graduation with peace of mind.

How to choose a tattoo school There are many tattoo schools across Japan, but what should you focus on to choose one that suits you?

This section goes over key points for choosing a tattoo school without regrets.

Choose a school with clear fees and payment methods Tuition for tattoo schools is by no means cheap, so it is important to choose a school with a transparent fee structure.

Check whether the contents covered by the tuition—such as class fees, equipment costs, and material fees—are clearly stated, and whether there are any additional charges.

Whether the school offers not only lump-sum payment but also monthly or installment payments is another important point.

Choose a school with professional instructors In the world of tattoo artists, who you learn from greatly affects the speed and quality of your improvement.

When choosing a tattoo school, make sure the instructors are active professionals with ample achievements, and carefully check the quality of their work and their specialty styles.

For example, if you want to specialize in small point tattoos but learn from an artist who is mainly skilled in traditional Japanese tattoos, it may take longer for you to progress.

It is important to assess whether they are reliable mentors by reviewing their background, awards, and the work they publish on social media.

Choose a school with practical curriculum It is also essential to check the school’s curriculum in advance.

Of course, classroom lectures are important for absorbing knowledge, but the most crucial factor is whether there are enough hands-on opportunities, such as practicing on artificial skin or observing procedures on live models.

Curriculums that cover not only techniques like how to use machines and how to draw lines, but also hygiene control, law, and customer service will help you build the comprehensive skills needed in real studios.

In particular, the amount of practice time is critical; schools that provide many opportunities to actually work with your hands make it easier for graduates to immediately contribute as ready-to-work professionals.

Top 3 tattoo schools to consider (as of December 2025) – Kanto & Kansai covered! This section introduces three recommended tattoo schools.

Each school’s features and strengths are summarized concisely, so you can use them as a reference when choosing a tattoo school.

Japan Tattoo Academy  is a tattoo school offering full-scale education at three locations: Tokyo, Osaka, and Okinawa.

Top active artists from across Japan serve as instructors, and students can systematically learn techniques through step-by-step curriculums ranging from beginner to advanced levels.

A key feature is that they not only teach tattooing techniques but also focus on nurturing design sense and providing lectures on tattoo culture and history.

They are also Japan’s only official school authorized to handle “ephemeral ink” that fades within three years, allowing students to work with an ink that is especially popular among young people.

After graduation, students receive extensive support such as introductions to partner studios and continued access to online courses, helping them stand firmly on their feet as professionals.

Pricing plans

The school offers three courses—“Professional Training Course”, “Artist Course”, and “Beginner Course”—and is particularly characterized by its strong emphasis on practical instruction.

In the “Professional Training Course”, students can comprehensively learn the knowledge and skills necessary for professional artists, from consultation methods to studio management and operation know-how.

In the “Beginner Course”, students can learn basic knowledge and skills at an affordable price, making it a great option for complete beginners.

Pricing plans

It has a team of active tattoo artists who cover a wide range of styles and provide careful, personalized instruction in small classes.

Its practical curriculum covers everything from basic tattooing techniques and design creation to customer service and the knowledge needed to open a studio, offering finely tuned support unique to a locally rooted school.

They use a ticket system with two options: a 5-session ticket and a 10-session ticket, so students can choose the number of lessons according to their needs.

There is also a “One-Day Tattoo Artist Experience Course” where participants can try tattooing on artificial skin, allowing those interested in the profession to get a feel for the atmosphere.

Pricing plans

This section introduces traits of people who are well suited to being tattoo artists.

People aiming to be hairstylists People aiming to work in the beauty industry, such as hairstylists, often already have aptitudes that fit tattoo artists.

Hairstylists need a sense of color, dexterous hands, and the ability to propose styles that turn clients’ requests into reality.

These are skills shared with tattoo artists, and the sensibility and communication abilities developed while aiming to be a hairstylist can be fully utilized in the tattoo world.

In fact, some people change careers from hairstylist to tattoo artist, and those with beauty-industry experience often find it relatively smooth to acquire new skills even if they start with no tattoo experience.

People who love drawing and design People who love drawing or excel at creating designs are also well suited to being tattoo artists.

Tattoos are often described as “art drawn on skin”, making drawing ability, composition skills, and creativity extremely important.

Since tattoo artists must accurately understand a client’s desired design and then propose it as a single, cohesive piece, people who regularly draw illustrations or engage in design work tend to be a good fit.

Those with a passion for drawing and design also tend to steadily improve their sense and technique through continuous practice.

People with dexterous hands who are good at detailed work Tattooing requires high concentration and delicate handwork, as artists must create millimeter-level lines and subtle gradations on the skin.

For especially detailed designs like small point tattoos, people with dexterous hands can achieve more refined results.

Conversely, people who struggle with sloppy work and prefer to carry out each step carefully are often well matched to the methodical, step-by-step nature of tattooing.

Frequently asked questions about tattoo schools Finally, here are answers to common questions many people have about tattoo schools.

What should I be careful about when attending a tattoo school? There are several points to be careful about when attending a tattoo school.

First, completing a short-term course does not instantly give you perfect skills, so it is important to continue practicing on your own to polish your skills even after finishing classes.

Also, during the course, never tattoo real human skin without your instructor’s permission.

Practice only on designated sheets or artificial skin, strictly follow all hygiene and legal rules, and build up experience step by step without rushing.

How long does it take to acquire tattooing skills? The time needed to acquire tattooing skills varies by person, but as a general guideline, it is best to expect anywhere from several months to several years.

Some schools provide intensive three-month courses that teach the basics, and in some cases students can debut as apprentices in as little as six months.

However, in reality, it usually takes several more years of practical experience after graduation before you can confidently perform procedures as a fully fledged tattoo artist.

While school can help you learn more efficiently than old-fashioned apprenticeships that took many years, steady, patient practice is still the fastest route to improvement.

Are there age limits for tattoo schools? In most cases, you must be at least 18 years old (and not a high-school student) to enroll in a tattoo school.

Some schools may require parental consent or refuse underage applicants altogether, so be sure to check each school’s policies.

On the other hand, there is generally no upper age limit, and many people start attending school as working adults aiming to become tattoo artists.

Although acquiring tattoo skills requires physical stamina and concentration, anyone can aim to go pro at any age as long as they have sufficient passion and commitment.

Summary: Three recommended tattoo schools Attending a tattoo school is a very effective way to efficiently acquire techniques and knowledge and open the door to a professional career.

This article introduced three recommended tattoo schools that provide environments where you can learn directly from professionals.

All of them have reliable track records and are safe options even for complete beginners.

Find a school that fits you and take that first step forward.