Japan Tourism Agency Requests Spa Operators To Allow Foreigners With Tattoos

Above, the woman's open air spa at the Atami Shinkadoya ryokan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Foreign visitors to Japan who have tattoos may soon be allowed to use spas if the Japan Tourism Agency's request is complied.

The Japan Times reported:

The Japan Tourism Agency decided Wednesday to ask operators of accommodation and other resort facilities to allow foreign visitors with tattoos to use spas. 

The agency plans to introduce examples for avoiding problems, such as the use of seals to hide tattoos and setting certain times for tattooed visitors, in order to encourage spa operators to provide their services to more foreign guests.

It would have been difficult for us to use an onsen in Japan last October as Denise has tattoos. We went to an Atami ryokan whose rooms included private spa baths for guests.

To read more, go here. 

Over Half of Japan's Hotels Bar People With Tattoos, Survey Finds

Above, a private bath will solve the problem of tattoos at ryokans and onsens. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A recent survey of Japanese hotels and ryokans (Japanese inns) has revealed that a little more than half of them ban people with tattoos.

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO —More than 50% of Japanese hotels and ryokans nationwide bar entry to their bathing facilities by guests with tattoos, according to a survey by the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA). 

The JTS published the results of the survey on its website on Wednesday. 

The survey, conducted in June, asked 3,768 hotels and ryokans in Japan: “Do you refuse admittance to people with tattoos?” and “Would you accept someone with tattoos if they cover them with stickers?” and “Do you know the reason for the custom of barring people with tattoos?” 

Of the 581 that replied, 56% said they do bar guests with tattoos, while 31% said they do not and 13% said they allow guests with tattoos into onsens if their tattoos are covered up.

According to the article, the ban on tattoos stems from keeping out criminal elements from hotels, ryokans and onsens:

In Japan, tattoos are associated with yakuza organized crime syndicates, and many public institutions bar people who have them as a way to keep gangsters out.

We knew about this ahead of time and opted for a ryokan room in Atami with its own hot spring tub as Denise has some tattoos.

To read more, go here. 

Tourism Agency To Poll Spas On Policies Dealing With Foreigners With Tattoos

Ever since it has become "fashionable" for men and women in the U.S. (and other countries) to sport tattoos, they have been having some perplexing difficulties in being admitted into Japanese onsens and spas.

The Japan Tourism Agency is conducting a survey of spas and onsens on how they deal with this.

According to an article in The Japan Times:

The Japan Tourism Agency said Thursday it has begun surveying onsen hot springs nationwide on their no-tattoo policy because many foreign visitors sporting body art have been perplexed by such restrictions. 

Many public bathhouses have long denied entry to people with tattoos due to their traditional association with yakuza. However, the policy has baffled many non-Japanese, including people whose tattoos are rooted in their ethnicity. 

Earlier this month, the agency started distributing a questionnaire to 3,700 inns and hotels with public baths, asking them why and how they turn away tattoo-bearers and whether they have run into trouble with guests over the policy, an official in its regional development department said.

 To read more, go here.