5 Awesome Tattoo-Friendly Onsens in Tokyo – Ink-Friendly Bliss
For many visitors, finding a tattoo friendly onsen can be difficult.
My first time in Tokyo, I was thrilled to find my modestly priced Shibuya Hotel Room included a fantastic Japanese breakfast and a guest onsen occupying the entire 4th floor. Unfortunately, in able to enjoy a soak, I had to wear a long sleeve Tshirt and a large bandaid over my calf tattoo. Knowing the only way I was going to make it a week in Tokyo with my chronic back pain, I frantically started exploring Tokyo’s best tattoo friendly Onsens, luckily landing first at the legendary Mannen Yu. Further exploration included Hisamatsuyu in the Ikubukuro district, which is renowned for its natural spring water and Mikoko Yu in Sumida, which is located in a more off the beaten track area. Kamata district’s Hasunuma onsen is also a great option, offering a traditional experience with its stained glass decor and lets not forget the cutest little budget option Yudonburi Sakae-yu. Regardless of budget or preference, I found that there are great options for onsens that are tattoo-friendly.
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Tattoo Friendly Onsens Quick Links:
We have all heard legends about tattoo culture in Japan and the old school mentality toward body art due to the long history of tattoos in the country and their association with the yakuza.
Thirty years into the tattoo boom, Japanese Irezumi tattoo style is easily the most influential on today’s Tattoo culture. The iconic designs of traditional Japanese tattoos have become iconic in Western tattoo culture, with many of us proudly displaying bold and colorful Irezumi style tattoos.
This influence has evolved over time and now encompasses everything from full back pieces to small and subtle works of body art. Many of today’s modern tattooists use techniques and color theory employed by their Japanese predecessors, creating beautiful works of art that will last a lifetime.
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But bring these works to the island of Japan and expect to loose access to most of Japan’s legendary hot springs and onsens.
If you can cover up your body art easily, build that into your travel plan.
This contemporary hot springs found plum in the middle of Tokyo is a spotless, modern day onsen experience. The heated wood floor emanates upward and lets your body know, its time to relax.
It’s been around since the mid 1950s, however has been revamped a couple of times since and is now fittingly upscale for its Ginza local.
It flaunts quality sodium water raised from 1,500m subterranean. Its outside garden tubs is beautifully decorated with rich green plants and dark stone pavers.
Address: 4 Chome-32-15 Sakuradai, Nerima City, Tokyo 176-0002, Japan
Access: It is a 10-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station.
Hours: 11:00am – 11:00pm
Price: 400 yen
This Onsen is a great choice for late night revelers and those with body art.
An adorable Showa era onsen that provides three different types of hot water experiences;
- rotenburo (an outside open air style onsen)
- neburo (onsen shower where you lay down)
- denkiburo (an electric-style onsen where live metal terminals pass low-level electrical flows through the human body, really)
They also offer massage and sauna as add ons.
Sakae- yu isn’t nearly as classy as others on the list but makes up for it in value:
- accessibility for bicyclist
- cheap massages!
- Old style experience (Add this to the ever growing Showa-era hidden treasures to discover.
- Another bonus is they are open till midnight for those late night soaks that make the following day of travel that much easier.
Address: 1 Chome-4-5 Nihonzutsumi, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0021, Japan
Access: It is a 12-minute walk from Minowa Station.
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 2:00pm – 12:00am, Sunday: 12:00pm – 12:00am (Closed on Tuesdays)
Price: 460 yen
MAP
A Tokyo treasure for over 50 years, this Sento opened in 1961 but was given a very cool facelift in 2016. We visited in 2018 and felt instantly cozy among the retroific amber tile and elegant crane wall mosaic.
The water treatments are varied and easy to melt your aches and pains away.
Since its technically a Sento, the variety here is in the showers. Some water showers are set to a cool but average 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) but we recommend hitting the white “silk showers” set at 45 degrees (113F) and guaranteed to open your pours and leave your skin feeling… eh…silky.
There are also wildly bizarre showers like an electric shower that will make your body shiver as you drench.
Only a little ways from Shin-Okubo Station in Tokyo’s thrilling and furious Korea town, strolling through Mannnenyu’s entryways is like strolling into something else entirely.
With an extravagant new billboard out front, cleaner showers, more splendid lighting, and an overall exemplary environment, you’re probably going to forget about time in this loosening up air.
万年湯
Address: 1- Chome 15-17 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 1690072, Japan
Nearest Station: Shin-Okubo Station
Phone Number: 03-3200-4734
Business hours: Sun – Fri
3:00 pm to 12:00 am
Closed: Saturdays
Entrance fee:
Adults (Junior high and older): 460 yen
NOTE: CHILDREN are welcome.
Children (Elementary): 180 yen
Pre-school children: 80 yen
Two Stories Located on the 4th and 5h floor of the hotel
The fourth floor is planned like a cavern like Onsen, with heated water of around 35-36 degrees. The fifth floor includes a high roof and open air. On the wall is a painting by Hiroki Sumida and a model of Katsushika Hokusai. At the halfway outside shower, you can have an incredible perspective on the Tokyo Sky Tree. In the event that there is a need of nursing care, the government assistance type private family shower may be helpful to you. You can likewise partake in a profound dark spring shower and a Cypress-scented shower here.
Address: 3-30-8 Sumida-ku, Ishiwara, Tokyo
Hours: 3.30pm to 2am Tuesday to Sunday
Bathing fee: 1,500 yen per person for 90 minutes of private bath
Hasunuma Onsen is a tattoo-accommodating onsen in Tokyo situated around 20 minutes via train from Shinagawa Station. The spa is generally packed, even on weekdays with guests from all over. Even so, we LOVE this onsen!
The washroom’s incredible wall tile mosaics of glorious cascades are definitely one of the highlights. Stained glass and painted windows adorn this little place giving it a story book feel and antique elegance.
There are three different tubs in the main shower room, one is underground aquifer water, another, hot carbonated spring water, lastly, regular spring water. The carbonated spring is said to advance blood flow and is perfect for removing all your movement fatigues.
Sauna rooms are rentable for 300 yen each. The floor and walls are made with boards of Japanese cypress, imbuing the room with the smooth fragrance of regular wood.
The tattoo-accommodating office has arranged instructions with English clarifications to assist unfamiliar guests.
Don’t; be put off by the distance, Hasunuma Onsen is worth the trip ride.
Address: 6-16-11, Nishi Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo-to
Nearest Station2-minutes walk from Hasunuma Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line
Phone Number: 03-3734-0081
Hours: 3:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Closed: Tuesdays
Fee: Adults 470 yen; Elementary to Junior High students 180 yen:
