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Private Hakone Tours

 Tattoo Friendly Onsen in Hakone

It can be difficult to find an onsen in Japan that allows people with tattoos to enter. Japan has an arcane rule that people with tattoos are not allowed into onsen. This rule exists because tattoos are associated with the Yakuza, the organized crime syndicate of the country. Luckily, if you know how to get around it, there are ways for tattooed folk to enjoy the natural hot springs of Hakone. We took it upon ourselves to research the different onsen and policies in Hakone and here are some of the results. Our local guides offer private tours and help guests to try onsen with or without tattoos.

Onsen Ryokan:

The good news is that if you are staying the night in Hakone, the number of ryokan with natural hot springs that will accept you increases a lot. The Hakone region can split up into a few main regions. Here we will introduce some of the onsen ryokan:

  • Fuji Hakone Guesthouse - This lower budget guesthouse located in the Sengokuhara region of Hakone has a series of private onsen baths. On check in guests are able to book a time slot in the bath of their choosing. Tattooed guests are more than welcome here. Book Now on Booking.com

  • Gora Kansuiro - This mid range onsen ryokan is located in the Gora region of Hakone, an active geothermal area with tons of hot springs! Gora Kansuiro allows foreign staying guests with tattoos to enter the public bath freely. They also have private onsen baths in their rooms too. Book Now on Booking.com

  • Kinnotake Tonosawa - This higher end resort ryokan in the Tonosawa region of Hakone, quite near to Hakone Yumoto Station, only has private outdoor onsen included in the rooms and welcomes people with or without tattoos without distinction. Book Now on Booking.com

  • Yama no Chaya - Located in the Tonosawa area, this mid range ryokan welcomes tattooed guests into their public onsen bath without having to have them be covered up. Website: http://www.yamanochaya.com/

  • Matsuzakaya Honten - A higher end ryokan in the quiet Ashinoyu region of Hakone. The ryokan has several rooms with private onsen included. Guests with tattoos that can be covered up with tape may use the public bath. But those who cannot must rely on private baths. Book Now on Booking.com

  • Hakone Kyuan - Hakone Kyuan is mid-high range ryokan in the Kowakidani area. They do not have a large public bath and only have private onsen baths in their rooms. As a result they tend to allow tattoos but would like guests to let them know and talk with them prior to their stay. Book Now on Booking.com

  • Hakone Suishoen - A higher end ryokan in the Kowakidani region, near the Open Air Museum. Each room is equipped with a private natural hot spring bath. Unfortunately tattooed guests are not allowed into the public bath. Book Now on Booking.com

  • Suiun - A mid range ryokan in the Gora region of Hakone. Guests with tattoos are only permitted to use the private onsets in their rooms and not the public bath. Book Now on Booking.com

Day Trip Onsen:

If you are not staying the night, you are limited to a very small selection of day trip onsen that allow tattoos:

  • Tenzan Onsen - This has long been considered the one place with an open door policy to tattooed guests. However in recent years the facility has introduced quite difficult to enforce policies, at present they allow solo visitors with tattoos, or small groups (up to 6) with only one tattooed guest. Sadly this onsen, once a symbol of new non-discriminatory onsen policy, is likely struggling to balance the opinions of its varying guests. Better than nothing! Website: https://tenzan.jp/english/

  • Yunessun - A family friendly mixed sex swim-suit only hot spring water park. There is also a nude section which is single sex called Morinoyu. Covered up small tattoos are allowed in the swimsuit area. Tattoos are not accepted in the public nude area of Morinoyu. However, there are private baths in which tattoos are permitted.