TOKYO — A government survey showed Wednesday that 56% of Japanese hotels and inns do not allow tattooed visitors to enter public bathing areas as opposed to 31% that do, while 13% allow entry under certain conductions such as if tattoos are hidden.
The Japan Tourism Agency conducted the survey as some tattooed foreign travellers had hoped to visit Japanese hot springs and public baths during their trip. Japan is aiming to increase the number of foreign visitors to 20 million per year.
The issue of tattoos in Japanese public bathing areas came to light in 2013 when a Maori woman from New Zealand was rejected entry to a public bath in Hokkaido, northern Japan, due to her traditional facial tattoos.
The ban is primarily aimed at preventing the entry of members of organised crime syndicates, many of whom have tattoos.
The survey was conducted in June by sending questionnaires to 3,768 accommodation facilities across Japan, of which 581 facilities, or 15%, responded.