Category: Travel

Onsen (hot springs) are one of Japan’s great pleasures — but if you have tattoos, you’ve probably heard they can be a problem. Here’s the honest, up-to-date guide to soaking with ink.

Why tattoos and onsen clash

Historically, tattoos in Japan were associated with the yakuza (organized crime), so many bathhouses banned them to keep a family-friendly atmosphere. The rule is about appearances, not you personally — but it’s still widely enforced, especially at traditional public baths.

Your options with tattoos

• Tattoo-friendly onsen. A growing number welcome ink, especially in tourist areas. Look for “tattoo OK” / “tattoo friendly” listings before you go.
• Cover-up patches. Small tattoos can be hidden with waterproof skin-tone stickers (sold online and at some pharmacies). Many baths allow entry if the tattoo is fully covered.
• Private baths (kashikiri / family bath). The stress-free choice — rent a private bath by the hour, common at ryokan and onsen towns.
• In-room onsen. Some ryokan rooms have a private open-air bath (rotenburo) — no rules, total privacy.

Where it’s easiest

Big resort areas like Hakone, Kinosaki, and Beppu have more tattoo-friendly and private options. See our guide to the best onsen towns in Japan to plan around private baths.

Onsen etiquette (for everyone)

• Wash and rinse thoroughly at the shower stations before entering the bath.
• No swimsuits — you bathe nude. The small towel doesn’t go in the water.
• Tie up long hair; keep voices low; no photos.

New to Japanese customs? Pair this with our etiquette guide.

Bottom line

Tattoos don’t have to mean no onsen. Book a ryokan with a private bath, use a cover patch for small designs, or seek out tattoo-friendly spots — and you’ll still get that unforgettable soak. Make it part of a wider trip with our 7-day itinerary.

What tattoo-friendly options cost

• Cover-up patches run JPY 500-1,500 for a pack, sized to cover small-to-medium tattoos — worth buying a couple of sizes before your trip since availability in Japanese pharmacies can be inconsistent outside major cities.
• Private family baths (kashikiri) at onsen towns run JPY 2,000-5,000 for a 45-60 minute rental, separate from the main communal bath admission, and typically need to be booked at the front desk on arrival since slots are limited.
• A ryokan room with a private in-room open-air bath adds JPY 5,000-20,000 over a standard room, but completely removes any tattoo policy question for the length of your stay.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming a “tattoo-friendly” label means a large tattoo is fine everywhere — some tattoo-friendly onsen still have size or placement limits (no face/neck ink, for example); check the specific policy for your tattoo’s size rather than assuming a blanket welcome.
• Not calling ahead to confirm a private bath is available — especially at smaller, popular onsen towns, private baths can be fully booked on weekends; a quick call or online booking before you arrive avoids disappointment.
• Using a cover patch that isn’t genuinely waterproof for extended soaking — test any patch at home in a bath first, since some cheaper covers lift after 10-15 minutes in hot water.

Researching before you travel

Several English-language apps and websites specifically list tattoo-friendly onsen and ryokan across Japan, updated by other tattooed travelers — checking one of these before finalizing your itinerary saves the stress of discovering a policy problem after you’ve already booked a non-tattoo-friendly property.

Traveling as a group with mixed tattoo status

If your travel group includes both tattooed and non-tattooed members, a private family bath or a ryokan with in-room bathing lets everyone soak together without singling anyone out or splitting up the group — often a smoother solution than each person separately navigating different individual policies at a shared communal bath.

Some links below are affiliate links. If you book through them, Japan Trove may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Japan might be the best country in the world for solo travel: extremely safe, easy to navigate, and full of experiences that are just as good — sometimes better — on your own. Here’s how to make the most of a solo trip.

Why Japan is perfect for solo travelers

• Safety. Low crime and easy to walk around late; solo travelers, including women, generally feel very comfortable.
• Solo-friendly by design. Counter seats at ramen and sushi bars, single hotel rooms, and vending machines everywhere.
• Easy logistics. Great signage, reliable trains, and translation apps mean you rarely feel stuck.

Where to stay solo

• Business hotels — cheap, clean single rooms; ideal bases. Book via Booking.com .
• Capsule hotels — a fun, budget-friendly only-in-Japan experience.
• Hostels — great for meeting people if you want company.

Eating alone (no problem here)

Solo dining is completely normal. Look for counter seats, ticket-machine restaurants (buy a meal ticket, hand it over — no awkward ordering), ramen shops, and standing bars. Konbini and depachika food halls are your friends too.

Things that shine solo

• Quiet temple mornings in Kyoto.
• Wandering neighborhoods at your own pace in Tokyo.
• A reflective soak at an onsen town.

Practical solo tips

• Get an eSIM and an IC card so you’re self-sufficient.
• Share your itinerary with someone at home and keep some cash on hand.
• Learn a few Japanese phrases — locals appreciate the effort.

New to the country? Combine this with our first-timer tips and 7-day itinerary.

What solo travel typically costs

• Single business hotel rooms run JPY 6,000-12,000/night in most mid-size cities, not much more than a shared twin room split two ways once you account for the space and privacy difference.
• Solo dining rarely carries a premium in Japan — ramen counters, kaiten-zushi, and set-meal shops are priced per person regardless of party size, unlike some countries where solo diners face minimum spend requirements or awkward seating.
• A realistic solo daily budget for a comfortable mid-range trip runs JPY 12,000-18,000 including lodging, food, and local transport, similar to per-person costs for a couple since Japan doesn’t heavily incentivize group travel the way some destinations do.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Over-scheduling every single day — solo trips are the easiest to burn out on since there’s no travel companion suggesting a slower pace; building in at least one unplanned afternoon per week noticeably improves overall trip satisfaction.
• Avoiding counter dining out of unfamiliarity — ramen shops, sushi counters, and standing bars are specifically designed around solo and quick dining; hesitating to sit alone at a counter means missing some of the best, most efficient food in the country.
• Not researching capsule hotel gender policies before booking — most are single-gender by floor or property; check before assuming any capsule hotel works for solo bookings of any gender.

Meeting other travelers if you want company

Hostels with common areas, guided food or walking tours, and izakaya with shared counter seating are all easy, low-pressure ways to have social moments during an otherwise independent trip — solo travel in Japan doesn’t have to mean total isolation unless that’s specifically what you’re looking for.

Solo-friendly cities beyond the capital

Compact regional cities like Kanazawa, Takayama, and Nara are especially rewarding for solo travelers — easy to navigate without much planning, safe to explore after dark, and set up with good single-traveler accommodation options away from Tokyo’s larger scale and pace.

Some links below are affiliate links. If you book through them, Japan Trove may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Soaking in an onsen (hot spring) is one of Japan’s great pleasures — and staying overnight in an onsen town, with a ryokan dinner and a soak under the stars, is unforgettable. Here are the best onsen towns and how to enjoy them.

Top onsen towns

• Hakone — easiest from Tokyo, with Mt. Fuji views; see our day trips guide (great overnight too).
• Kinosaki — a storybook town where you stroll between seven public baths in a yukata.
• Kusatsu — one of Japan’s most famous hot-spring resorts, with a dramatic steaming water field.
• Beppu & Yufuin (Kyushu) — a hot-spring wonderland and a chic, arty retreat side by side.
• Nyuto Onsen (Tohoku) — remote, rustic milky baths deep in the mountains.

Onsen etiquette (important)

• Wash thoroughly at the shower stations before entering the bath.
• No swimsuits — you bathe undressed; baths are usually gender-separated.
• Keep the small towel out of the water (rest it on your head or the side).
• Tie up long hair and don’t put it in the water.
• Tattoos can be restricted at some baths — look for tattoo-friendly onsen or private (kashikiri) baths; a ryokan room with a private bath sidesteps the issue.

Staying overnight

The magic is a ryokan with a kaiseki dinner and your own or a shared onsen. Book early, especially in autumn and winter — filter for onsen ryokan on Booking.com and Agoda .

When to go

Onsen are wonderful year-round, but a snowy outdoor bath in winter is peak Japan. See our best time to visit guide, and slot an onsen night into your itinerary.

What an onsen town stay costs

• A ryokan stay with kaiseki dinner and breakfast runs JPY 20,000-45,000 per person depending on the town and season, with remote spots like Nyuto Onsen often pricing lower than easily accessible ones like Hakone despite the more memorable setting.
• Day-use onsen access (without an overnight stay) runs JPY 700-2,000 at most towns, a good budget option if you’re passing through without time for a full stay.
• Kinosaki’s seven-bath yukata-hopping system is included with many ryokan stays via a discount pass, letting you try multiple baths across the town for one modest add-on fee rather than paying full price at each.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing a destination based on fame alone — Hakone’s convenience from Tokyo comes with bigger crowds than Kinosaki or Nyuto Onsen; if a quiet, immersive soak matters more than easy access, the less famous towns often deliver a better experience.
• Booking a single-night stay when a town rewards two — Kinosaki specifically is built around strolling between baths over an unhurried one or two nights, and a rushed single night undercuts the whole point of the town’s design.
• Forgetting winter road and train delays in remote areas like Nyuto Onsen — build extra travel time buffer into winter visits to the more rural onsen towns.

Choosing a town to match your trip style

Hakone suits a quick, well-connected escape from Tokyo with Fuji views bundled in; Kinosaki suits travelers who want a walkable, storybook town experience; and Nyuto Onsen or similar remote spots suit those chasing a genuinely rustic, off-the-beaten-path soak away from any crowd at all.

Onsen towns for a winter escape

Winter genuinely transforms an onsen town visit — soaking in a steaming outdoor bath while snow falls around you is one of the most consistently cited highlights by first-time visitors, and towns like Kusatsu and Nyuto Onsen lean into this with dramatic seasonal scenery that summer visits simply can’t match.

Some links below are affiliate links. If you book through them, Japan Trove may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Japan is one of the easiest and most rewarding countries to visit with kids: safe, clean, endlessly novel, and full of things children love. Here’s how to plan a family trip that works for everyone.

Why Japan is great for families

• Safety and cleanliness are exceptional; kids can have a lot of freedom.
• Trains are a highlight in themselves — the Shinkansen thrills most kids.
• Convenience stores and vending machines mean snacks and drinks are always close.
• Novelty everywhere — from robot cafés to character shops.

Kid-friendly highlights

• Tokyo: teamLab digital art, Ueno Zoo, character stores in Harajuku, and the Ghibli Museum (book far ahead).
• Osaka: Universal Studios Japan, the Aquarium (Kaiyukan), and easygoing street food in Dotonbori.
• Nara: the friendly bowing deer are a guaranteed hit — see our Nara day trip.
• Anywhere: Pokémon Centers and Nintendo/character shops — see where to buy Pokémon merch.

Practical tips

• Pack light and use luggage forwarding (takkyubin) between hotels — much easier with kids.
• Family rooms and rooms for 3–4 fill up fast; book early via Booking.com .
• Strollers: stations have elevators but they can be a hunt; a compact stroller or carrier helps.
• Baby supplies — diapers, formula, and food are easy to buy at drugstores and konbini.
• Slow down. Fewer stops, more time; build in park and playground breaks.

Getting around

Kids often ride trains cheaply or free depending on age. Grab an IC card each for easy tapping, and check the JR Pass math for your route. Then build your days with the 7-day itinerary.

What a family trip costs

• Kids under a certain age (typically 6 and under) ride most trains free, and elementary-age children usually pay half fare — a genuine cost saving that adds up on a multi-city itinerary with several long train legs.
• Family-sized hotel rooms run JPY 15,000-30,000/night in mid-range hotels, though many standard Japanese hotel rooms are compact enough that families of 4+ need to specifically confirm room capacity rather than assume a “family room” fits everyone comfortably.
• Kid-focused attractions (teamLab, aquariums, Pokemon Centers) run JPY 1,500-4,000 per child, generally reasonable compared to similar attractions in other major tourist destinations.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Overpacking the daily schedule — this is the single most common family-trip mistake; children tire faster than adults expect, and building in park time, hotel downtime, or an early dinner prevents meltdowns that derail an otherwise good day.
• Not researching stroller-friendly routes in advance — while most major stations have elevators, they’re not always the most obvious route from the ticket gate; asking station staff for the accessible route saves real frustration with a stroller in tow.
• Assuming all restaurants welcome young children — some smaller counter-style restaurants (particularly high-end sushi or ramen counters) aren’t well suited to kids; family restaurants (like Gusto or Saizeriya) and casual chain restaurants are safer, kid-friendly defaults.

Building in downtime kids actually need

Japan has excellent, well-maintained playgrounds and parks in nearly every neighborhood, and building in even 30-45 minutes of unstructured park time between sightseeing stops does more for a family trip’s overall mood than any single attraction — a detail easy to overlook when planning around famous sights alone.

Handling picky eaters

Konbini and depachika food halls are a genuine lifesaver for families with picky eaters, offering familiar-looking options (plain rice balls, simple noodle dishes, fruit) alongside more adventurous choices — a practical backup that removes the pressure of every meal being a new food experience for a reluctant child.

You don’t need to speak Japanese to travel Japan — English signage and translation apps cover a lot. But a handful of phrases go a long way and are genuinely appreciated. Here are the ones actually worth memorizing.

The essentials

• Arigatou gozaimasu — thank you (polite). The single most useful phrase.
• Sumimasen — excuse me / sorry / thank you (to get attention or apologize). Incredibly versatile.
• Konnichiwa — hello (daytime).
• Onegaishimasu — please (when requesting something).
• Hai / Iie — yes / no.

Eating out

• Kore o kudasai — “this one, please” (point at the menu).
• Oishii! — delicious!
• Okaikei onegaishimasu — the bill, please.
• Gochisousama deshita — “thank you for the meal” (as you leave).
• Vegetarian desu / ___ arerugī desu — “I’m vegetarian” / “I’m allergic to ___”.

Getting around & shopping

• ___ wa doko desu ka? — “where is ___?”
• Ikura desu ka? — “how much is it?”
• Eigo o hanasemasu ka? — “do you speak English?”
• Daijoubu desu — “it’s fine / no thanks / I’m okay.” Very handy.

Pronunciation tips

Japanese is pronounced consistently: vowels are a (ah), i (ee), u (oo), e (eh), o (oh). Keep it flat and even — no strong stress. Even a rough attempt is warmly received.

Tech that helps

Download a translation app with camera mode for menus and signs, and set up an eSIM so it works everywhere. For the cultural side of communicating politely, see our etiquette guide.

Ready to plan? Start with our first-timer tips and 7-day itinerary.

Phrases for specific situations

• At a ryokan or onsen: “Sumimasen, taoru wa arimasu ka?” — “Excuse me, do you have a towel?” — useful shorthand for asking staff about any missing item using the same simple pattern.
• At a train station: “Kono densha wa ___ ni ikimasu ka?” — “Does this train go to ___?” — a quick way to confirm you’re boarding correctly before the doors close.
• Shopping: “Kore, chiisai/ookii saizu arimasu ka?” — “Do you have this in a smaller/bigger size?” — handy for clothing shops where sizing runs differently than expected.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Over-relying on formal textbook phrasing — real interactions move faster than a phrasebook; single words like “sumimasen” plus pointing usually communicate intent just as well as a full grammatically perfect sentence.
• Assuming louder or slower English helps — speaking clearly at normal volume, paired with a translation app for anything complex, generally works better than repeating English more forcefully.
• Skipping numbers — learning to count to 10 in Japanese (ichi, ni, san…) helps with everything from ordering quantities to understanding prices read aloud, and is a quick, useful addition to a basic phrase list.

Using translation apps effectively

Camera-mode translation (pointing your phone at a menu or sign) works remarkably well for printed Japanese text, but voice translation for live conversation can struggle with fast or accented speech — typing into a translation app rather than relying on voice recognition often produces a cleaner, more accurate result in a noisy restaurant or station.

Phrases that build goodwill, not just function

Beyond purely functional phrases, small courtesy expressions — “osaki ni shitsurei shimasu” when leaving a room before others, or a simple “otsukaresama desu” to acknowledge someone’s effort — aren’t strictly necessary for a tourist to know, but locals notice and appreciate them enough that even one used correctly can visibly improve an interaction.