Unseen Japan Kaiwa 3: Tattoo Blues – Japan’s Tattoo/Tourist Problem

tattoo
How deeply ingrained are cultural attitudes against tattoos in Japan? We sat down again with YouTuber Misaki to talk about her experiences - and how her thinking shifted after moving to America.

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A month back, I wrote about how the city of Beppu in Oita Prefecture was attempting to battle a cultural bias against tattoos. Tattooing is generally associated with criminals in Japan (namely yakuza, Japan’s organized crime syndicates), and many hot springs (onsen) forbid anyone with tattoos from entering. That presents a real problem for foreign tourists coming from countries where that attitude doesn’t exist. To combat the impact on tourism, Oita Prefecture, known as the hot springs capital of Japan, is creating maps for tourists to guide them to the 100+ hot springs in the area where being inked is a-ok.

Why do such attitudes towards tattoos exist? How does the average Japanese person feel when they seem someone with tattoos? I sat down once again with English language and American lifestyle YouTuber Misaki about her attitudes around tattoos, how her attitudes have (and haven’t!) changed since coming to the US, and whether hot springs owners who don’t allow tattooed patrons are being honest about their reasons.

Unseen Japan Kaiwa: Tattoo Blues – Why Are Tattoos Forbidden in Japanese Hot Springs?

The prohibition on tattoos in Japanese hot springs is causing issues for many inked travelers. How is Japan responding? And where does the cultural prohibition come from? We talk with YouTuber Misaki about her thoughts on tattoos and how things in Japan are (and are not) changing.

Misaki is a native of Kagoshima in Japan. She currently lives near Seattle, WA, where she works as a dental hygienist. Misaki maintains her own YouTube channel where she teaches English to Japanese speakers, and shares tips and tricks for getting by in America.

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