Japan onsen guide: etiquette, tattoo rules and where to go
Most public onsen mean full nudity, separate baths for men and women, and a thorough wash before you get in. Tattoos are the question most visitors ask about: rules differ by bath, so check first, and consider a tattoo-friendly town or a private bath.
- Swimwear: Not allowed in most baths
- Tattoos: Varies by bath: ask first
- Time in the water: Around 30 minutes at most
- SwimwearNot allowed in most baths
- TattoosVaries by bath: ask first
- Time in the waterAround 30 minutes at most
- Tattoo-friendly townKinosaki Onsen, 7 baths
How to use an onsen, step by step
- Take off your shoes before the changing and bathing area. Lockers or baskets hold your clothes.
- Find the right side: 女 is women (often a red curtain) and 男 is men (often blue).
- Undress fully. Swimwear is not allowed in most hot springs, and a small towel is usually provided.
- Sit at the washing area and wash your whole body, rinsing off all the soap.
- Get in quietly. Do not jump in, swim or splash.
- Keep your towel out of the water, on your head or at the side of the bath, and do not wring it into the water.
- Keep your hair out of the water, and tie long hair up.
- Stay about 30 minutes at most, and never bathe drunk.
- Dry off before you go back to the changing room. Photos in the bathing area are prohibited.
Onsen with tattoos: what the official sources say
Japan's official sources do not all say the same thing, so plan for the strictest answer. The Japan Tourism Agency's visitor text says tattoos are prohibited, and that small ones can be covered with skin-coloured waterproof stickers. The Japan National Tourism Organization says it is case by case in practice, and that more onsen allow tattoos now than ever.
| Your options | How it works |
|---|---|
| Tattoo-friendly town | Kinosaki Onsen's official site describes its 7 natural hot spring baths as tattoo friendly, and the town is walkable between them. |
| Tattoo seals | Skin-coloured adhesive strips for small to medium tattoos. Some onsen sell them, and so does the Don Quijote chain. |
| Private bath (kashikiri) | A bath reserved for you, usually at an extra cost. In Hakone, the official tourism site puts this at about ¥2,000 for an hour or two. |
| Tenzan, Hakone Yumoto | Hakone's official tourism site names this day-use bath as one option if you have tattoos, but not for full-body tattoos. |
Rules are set by each bath and can change. Ask before you travel.
Well-known onsen towns
| Town | Why go |
|---|---|
| Kinosaki Onsen, Hyogo | Seven baths you can walk between, in a yukata if you like, in a town with 1,300 years of history. |
| Hakone, Kanagawa | Hundreds of places to bathe, in the national park south of Tokyo, and often visited as a day trip from the city. |
| Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto | A town that keeps its traditional look, with outdoor baths and scenery, away from big commercial buildings. |
| Nyuto Onsenkyo, Akita | Seven onsen resorts in Towada-Hachimantai National Park. |
| Ibusuki, Kagoshima | Natural steam sand baths on the beach, as well as hot springs. |
What an onsen costs, and where to stay
Prices are set by each bath. A public bath at a ryokan or hotel is almost always free for overnight guests, and many ryokan have private baths in the rooms, which also solves the tattoo question. Day visitors pay a fixed entry price. On Tiqets, Naniwanoyu in Osaka was from €5.08 on 10 October 2026.
Getting there from the airport
Fly into Tokyo for Hakone. Use the transfers below to reach the city first, then continue from there.
Plan the rest of the trip
Questions travellers ask
Can you go in an onsen with tattoos?+
It depends on the bath. The Japan Tourism Agency's text says tattoos are prohibited unless small enough to cover with a waterproof sticker. The Japan National Tourism Organization says it is case by case and more onsen allow them now. Kinosaki Onsen's seven baths are tattoo friendly, and private baths are another way round it.
Do you have to be naked in an onsen?+
In most hot springs, yes. A few commercial theme-park-style places differ. Private baths and foot baths are options if you prefer not to bathe nude with others.
How long should you stay in an onsen?+
The Japan National Tourism Organization suggests around 30 minutes at most.
Can I wash my hair in the bath water?+
No. Wash at the washing area first, and keep your hair out of the water.
Checked on 1 November 2026 on the operators' and official tourism sites: Japan Tourism Agency: hot spring manners and rules, JNTO: onsen, tattoos and etiquette, JNTO: a beginner's guide to onsen, JNTO: hot springs in Japan, Hakone official tourism: onsen and tattoos, Visit Kinosaki, official site. Prices and rules change, so check before you go. AirConnect may earn a commission if you book through our partner links, at no extra cost to you.