How we check

A tattoo policy is only useful if it's current and specific. Here's how every listing on Sumiyu is made.

We ask the venue

We contact each place in Japanese, by phone, email or LINE, and ask the same questions every time: can tattooed guests use the indoor bath, the outdoor bath and the sauna; is a cover patch accepted and up to what size; is there a private bath; and are patches sold on site. A clear written policy on the venue's own website also counts.

We write down what they said, and when

Each listing records how we confirmed it, the role of the person who answered (never their name), and the date. That date is shown on the page. A listing we haven't confirmed yet says so plainly.

We check again

Policies change, often without notice. We re-check popular places every few months, every place at least once a year, and straight away when someone tells us things were different. If that happened to you, email hello@sumiyu.com.

What the badges mean

• Ink OKTattoos welcome as they are. No cover, no conditions.
• Cover OKWelcome once covered. Check the size limit.
• PrivateBook a private bath and the shared-bath rules never apply.
• NoTattoos not allowed. Listed so you know before you go.

What we don't do

We don't copy other directories' lists, and we don't list a place as welcoming because of a single review. If a venue asks us to describe it differently, or to remove it, we do.

How we make money

Some links to hotels, ryokan and tickets are affiliate links. If you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. They're marked, they never change a badge, and venues can't pay for a better policy label.