Japan Easing Up On Tattoos

Above, a Japanese bath. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Foreign visitors to Japan who sport tattoos on their bodies will be able to access some Japanese bath houses. But, there is a caveat.

According to the Japan Times:

Restrictions on tattooed customers at bathing facilities and resort swimming areas are being loosened around the country. 

A number of facilities allow people with tattoos to enter if the tattoos can be covered by stickers. This is aimed at treating foreign tourists, many of whom consider tattoos a fashion item, differently from gangsters, some of whom sport elaborate tattoos. 

With the Olympics and Paralympics scheduled for Tokyo in 2020, some facilities are calling for greater understanding of cultural differences.

I am assuming that the bath houses will supply the stickers. If not, I guess American travelers should visit their presidential candidate's headquarters and stock up on bumper stickers before heading for Japan. Imagine someone climbing into a Japanese bath covered with Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders bumperstickers.

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