9 of the 102 stays we checked in Kyushu publish a rule that lets a tattooed guest bathe. 69 more list a hot-spring private bath but state no rule — it may provide an alternative, but the inn has not stated a tattoo rule (our inference); confirm before booking. 6 publish a no-tattoo rule and 17 publish nothing.
- Shared OK 4
- Covered OK 4
- Private only 2
- Private likely 69
- Not allowed 6
- Says nothing 17
Town by town
Kyushu is the southernmost of Japan's four main islands. Our register covers Unzen, Kurokawa, Beppu, Fukuoka, Yufuin and Ibusuki here, in Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Nagasaki and Oita.
The most written ways in are in Unzen (3), Kurokawa (2) and Beppu (2). For private baths without a stated rule, Kurokawa has the most (24).
Stays with a written way in
These 9 stays publish a rule that lets a tattooed guest bathe — in the shared bath, with a cover sticker, or in a confirmed hot-spring private bath. Quotes are our translations; open a stay for the source and the date we checked.
| Stay | Status | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| Kai BeppuBeppu · Oita | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos.Operator's group-wide rule |
| Chikugogawa Onsen KiyonoyaFukuoka · Fukuoka | Shared OK | Tattoo acceptance / PermittedPrefecture / tourism-bureau database |
| Ryokan IchinoiKurokawa · Kumamoto | Shared OK | We do not restrict tattoos. |
| Hoshino Resorts Kai UnzenUnzen · Nagasaki | Shared OK | Respecting our guests' cultural backgrounds and values, we do not restrict use by guests with irezumi (traditional tattoos) or tattoos.Operator's group-wide rule |
| Okamotoya RyokanBeppu · Oita | Covered OK | (d) When the guest has tattoos (including Western-style tattoos). However, this does not apply to small tattoos of about a single point. …The inn's terms allow it to refuse the stay, not only the baths. |
| Futsukaichi Onsen Daimaru BessoFukuoka · Fukuoka | Covered OK | Tattoo acceptance / Permitted if covered with one small foundation tape.Prefecture / tourism-bureau database |
| YumerindoKurokawa · Kumamoto | Covered OK | Guests with tattoos are refused bathing. *However, on the premise that you declare it in advance and are considerate of other guests, we permit bathing for point tattoos (fashion tattoos). |
| ToyokanUnzen · Nagasaki | Covered OK | (2) Persons with tattoos * Except where they can be completely covered with two of the facility's designated stickers |
| AzumaenUnzen · Nagasaki | Private only | To maintain an environment where all guests can relax, Higashien asks [guests with tattoos] to refrain from using the large shared bath. [This is the answer to the FAQ question about tattoos; bracketed words added by us.] |
Private bath likely
69 stays in Kyushu list a private hot-spring bath but say nothing about tattoos: 24 in Kurokawa, 20 in Yufuin, 11 in Beppu, 8 in Ibusuki, 6 in Unzen. The town pages list each one with the bath type. Before you book one, ask — our Japanese message covers it — or read the private bath guide.
Stays with a no-tattoo rule
6 stays in Kyushu publish a rule that does not permit tattoos. Each stay page shows what the inn publishes about private or in-room baths, if anything.
- Not allowedSanso Kannawa-en Beppu
- Not allowedSuginoi Hotel Beppu
- Not allowedFunagoya Onsen Hotel Higuchiken Fukuoka
- Not allowedHakata Onsen Ryokan Fuji-no-en Fukuoka
- Not allowedHarazuru Onsen Taisenkaku Fukuoka
- Not allowedWakita Onsen Nansuikaku Fukuoka
Stays that publish nothing
17 stays in Kyushu publish no tattoo rule we could find — the most in Ibusuki, Yufuin and Kurokawa. That does not mean OK. Write before you book, or pick a stay from the lists above.
Related guides
- Onsen in Kansai11 of 79 stays we checked in 4 towns in Kansai publish a rule that lets tattooed guests bathe; 28 more have a private bath but no stated rule. Town by town.
- Private onsen for tattoos18 inns confirm a private hot-spring bath for tattooed guests; 17 more confirm a private bath that is not hot-spring water or not open yet. At 243 others we found a private hot-spring bath but no tattoo rule.
- How to ask a ryokan about tattoos451 of 631 inns we checked publish no tattoo rule. Polite Japanese messages you can copy — shared bath, cover stickers, private bath, in-room bath — with the English meaning.
Onsen towns
Every status above comes from what the inn (or, where labelled, its operator or a prefecture database) publishes. We checked these sources by 12 Oct 2026. Rules change: staff on the day have the last word.
“Private bath likely” is our inference from a published listing of a private bath, not the inn's statement. “Says nothing” means we found no rule — it does not mean OK. English translations are ours. How we verify · About