Why do people bathe naked with strangers — and why was I turned away for having a tattoo?
At both onsen and sento, several people share the same bathing area and enter naked; swimsuits are not allowed. Wash at the washing area before entering the bath, and keep small towels out of the water. Many facilities also display notices saying that people with tattoos may not enter.
Communal baths have a long history, including a culture of bathing naked together. As the phrase hadaka no tsukiai suggests, bathing has also been seen as a way to reduce social distance. Because everyone shares a clean bath, people wash first. Tattoo restrictions are more recent and stem from associations with organized crime. With more international visitors, facilities allowing tattoos under certain conditions are increasing.
Why — five layers
Japan has many volcanoes and hot springs across the country. They strongly influenced the development of bathing culture, and towns of inns and shops formed around hot springs.
Japanese bathing follows the idea of entering only after becoming clean. The bath is not where the body is washed; one cleans first so as not to soil the water shared by everyone.
Since the 2000s, Japan has strengthened efforts to exclude yakuza groups from society. In 2007 the government urged companies to cut ties with antisocial forces, and by 2011 exclusion ordinances were in force nationwide. The association of tattoos with yakuza influenced bathhouse rules, and some facilities still refuse tattooed guests to avoid anxiety or trouble among other users.
International view
Some bathing facilities overseas commonly require swimsuits. Japanese onsen and sento instead require nude bathing, and some restrict visitors with tattoos. These rules often surprise people visiting Japan from abroad.
But not always
There are onsen and sento that admit people with tattoos. Some allow entry if tattoos are covered, while others offer private baths. Tattoo-friendly facilities have increased, so it is not correct to assume that tattoos make every Japanese hot spring inaccessible.
What to do
Wash before bathing and keep towels out of the bath; place a small towel outside or on your head. If you have tattoos, check the facility's rules in advance, search for tattoo-friendly onsen, or reserve a private bath. Some require cover stickers. Ask reception if anything is unclear.
Sources
- onsen association surveys on tattoo policies
- histories of sento/onsen bathing culture
- Japan Tourism Agency guidance on tattoo-friendly bathing
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