Etiquette & taboos

Understanding local customs is where a journey begins. Find the topics that matter to you and feel at ease wherever you go.

3 rules found

Cultural sensitivitiesHot springsPlace-specific guidance · 日本

If you have tattoos, check the rules before using a hot spring

Do

Before you go, email the facility to ask about its rules
Small to medium tattoos can be covered with skin-coloured patches (some onsen sell them)
Choose a tattoo-friendly onsen, or book a private bath (kashikiri-buro) in advance

Don’t

Ignoring 'no tattoos' signs and getting in anyway

Most onsen do not allow guests with tattoos to bathe, but rules vary by facility and are often more relaxed for foreign visitors.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: tattoo rules and etiquette at onsen

Cultural sensitivitiesHot springsPlace-specific guidance · 日本

Wash your body thoroughly before getting into a hot spring

Do

Before getting in, sit on the small stool in the washing area and wash your whole body with the shower or a bucket, leaving no soap
Leave your small towel at the edge of the bath or fold it on your head

Don’t

Getting into the bath without rinsing first
Dipping your towel in the bath water
Leaving a used towel in the washing area

Not illegal, but other guests and the staff will see it as very rude. Most onsen require you to be fully naked in the bathing area.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: a beginner's guide to onsen

Local customsRestaurants & barsPlace-specific guidance · 日本

An izakaya's otoshi is a cover charge

Do

Accept the otoshi as an appetiser

Don’t

Arguing with staff about it or asking for it to be taken back

There is no penalty: before you order at an izakaya, a small dish of otoshi always arrives. It doubles as the cover charge and cannot be chosen or swapped.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: drinking in Japan