Only if covered. APA Hotels refuses guests with tattoos in its large baths, unless up to two of APA's own 10 × 12 cm cover stickers hide them. Staying guests get the stickers free at the front desk.
- APA hotels with a large bath (大浴場 / 大浴殿)
- Entry to the large bath is refused with a tattoo, unless no more than two APA-designated stickers, 10 × 12 cm each, cover it. If it comes to light after you go in, you will be asked to leave at once.
- Stickers
- Staying guests: up to two per person per night, free, from the front desk (ask each time you go to the bath). Day-spa visitors buy them at the front desk.
What APA Hotels says
What the group's policy says
“Entry by guests with irezumi (tattoos) is firmly refused.”
Our translation
Original Japanese: 入れ墨（タトゥー）をされた方のご入場は固くお断りいたします。
“Even after entry, as soon as this becomes known you will be asked to leave immediately.”
Our translation
Original Japanese: ご入場後でもその事実が判明した時点で、直ちに退去していただきます。
“However, if the tattoo can be covered with no more than two of our designated stickers (Point Tattoo Cover Seal) [size 10 cm × 12 cm], you may use the large bath.”
Our translation
Original Japanese: ただし、当社指定のシール(ポイントタトゥカバーシール)[サイズ10cm×12cm]2枚以内でタトゥーを覆うことが出来る場合には大浴殿を利用できます。
“Staying guests are given up to two stickers per person per night, free of charge, at the front desk.”
Our translation
Original Japanese: ご宿泊の方には、フロントにて1泊1名につき2枚までシールを無料で提供しております。
“(Day-spa visitors, please buy them at the front desk.)”
Our translation
Original Japanese: (スパ外来ご利用の方はフロントでお買い求めください。）
Group customer-support page (large bath) · apahotel.com (opens in a new tab) (Japanese) · checked 22 Oct 2026
“(2) Persons with irezumi (tattoos), except where they can be covered with this hotel's designated stickers.”
Our translation
Original Japanese: (2) 入れ墨（タトゥー）をされた方。ただし当ホテル指定のシールで覆うことができる場合を除きます。
Group terms: large-bath rules · apahotel.com (opens in a new tab) (Japanese) · checked 22 Oct 2026
What it covers — and what it doesn't
Covers
- The large baths (大浴場, which APA calls 大浴殿) at APA hotels that have one. The rule is on APA's group customer-support page and in its large-bath rules.
Does not settle
- Hotels without a large bath: there is nothing to refuse — the in-room bath is yours.
- A tattoo too large for two 10 × 12 cm stickers cannot be covered under this rule.
APA Hotels stays in our register · 0
No APA Hotels property is in our register yet: we list onsen stays one by one, from each one's own sources. The group rule above is what applies at its hotels with a large bath.
If you're refused
Staff on the day have the last word, even under a group rule. Before you book, ask the hotel directly and keep the reply. If you are turned away on the day, ask whether a private or in-room bath is available instead.
Other hotel groups
We read APA Hotels' own pages on 22 Oct 2026 and quote them exactly; nothing here comes from booking sites or reviews. Group rules change, and a property can apply its own: check the stay's page and ask before you book.
Never read a group rule as “every hotel is tattoo-friendly”: it says only what is quoted above. How we verify · About