Tattoos

Hi all, have just decided on two weeks in Japan in October/November next year - a while away I know, need time to save some $$.

I'm really looking forward to it so have started reading/thinking about it already! I've browsed through 60+ pages of posts so far and have gained a lot of great info, I know I'll be asking some more in-depth questions a little closer to the time.

My question today though, is regarding tattoos... Coming from New Zealand it's not something I often think about but I have heard that some Japanese are offended by tattoos due to the Yakuza connection, which is understandable (altho they are beautiful tattoos). I've googled the topic of tattoos in Japan, on the most part, people said they wouldn't be a problem but in some cases my boyfriend and I might be denied entry to some onsens etc which is fine, we really wouldn't want to cause any offence.

My BF has his forearm (possibly his whole arm by then) done in manga artwork by Akira Toriyama (yes, Dragonball Z) and I have, among others, a rising sun covering one shoulder. It's not like it's going to be tank top weather or anything so I won't be showing it off, but on the off chance we do find an onsen that lets tattoos in - is having something so Japanese like a rising sun on a gaijin going to cause any further issues?

I just thought I'd get some different perspectives on it, hopefully this won't turn into a debate on why people get tattoos like the Japan-Guide forum!

Thanks!

I don't think it'll be a big deal, and might even be a nice conversation starter. Japanese people will probably be curious to see foreigners with such Japanese-y tattoos. It could be an ice breaker.

As you say, onsens and public pools would be a problem but doesn't seem like you're really bothered about that.

Tattoos are quite fashionable now with many young people, and no longer soley associated with the yakuza, although the antiquated restrictions against them still hold in many - perhaps most? - onsen etc. But I don't think they are really viewed THAT negatively. I used to live in a beach town south of Tokyo and I don't know if it was just the surfie subculture - or possible they were all fakes - but in the summer when I walked along the beack I was always amazed how many of the surfie/raver boys and girls were inked.

People are going to know, either by looking at your faces or the style of your tattoos, that you aren't yakuza.

If you are denied entry due to tattoos, then probably everyone else is, too. If it's possible to inquire beforehand, do it. If you can find a place with a private onsen just for the 2 of your, all the better.

Yakuza go to onsen too. I remember entering one of the oldest onsen in Kyoto, to find the whole room full of tattooed men.
But as said above, you don't have much to worry about.

It is however, quite possible that you could be asked to leave if one of the staff spots your tattoo or one of the other guests complains, Don't just assume that it will be ok.

Anybody read this ?

"Tatooed yakuza arrested for trespassing after neglecting a "no entry for tatooed customers" signboard and ignoring staffs warnings"

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20090912p2a00m0na004000c.html

At an onsen ,the Yakuza groaned when my son answered their polite questions regarding the cost of his tatoos and complained about the high tatoo costs in Japan .He wore long -sleeved shirts in public , when with local relatives ,and never ran into any problems. Have a great trip !.

I've been in many different onsen and never had an issue. I always figure that someone would have to be bothered to complain and if that ever happens I would just leave without complaining. I have seen other women with tattoos in there too.

I recently added wife #4's ( Japan series ) name in kanji to my corpus and have had no problem in onsen or sento. Matter of fact, it is a great conversation starter with people always asking why I have four names in kanji and one in English (romaji) on my big fat bod. Don't worry.