u/Historical-Wear-9948

Went to Japan for a couple weeks and had a great time. Everyone online fear mongered about how if you have large tattoos that you couldn't cover up, forget about onsens. If you had tattoos you could not expose them in Shrines or Temples..... I even overheard one guy loudly complaining while I was in Japan about how he couldn't go to a shrine because he had tattoos on his legs and didn't have pants.

I was thinking I would not be able to get into any onsen and would read reviews about how many hotels that I was staying at did not allow tattoos and every single one of them said it wasn't a problem. I saw many people like myself wearing shorts with tattoos exposed at shrines and temples. In fact, there are some Buddhist monks that are covered in Wabori...

Yes, tattoo restrictions do exist if you have Yakuza style tattoos, I'm sure there are some onsens in less touristy places that have not changed their ways, and probably if you are Japanese, you might have a harder time.

I just really hate how social media is perpetuating these false ideas and it is leading people to have a warped view of how their vacation is going to be and in some cases ruining it for some people just because they think they can't go to a specific place based on how they dress.

I've even seen one post where this lady said you need to cover up your tattoos all the time out of respect as if Japan was Saudi Arabia..... I had school kids, old and young salarymen, and even really old grandpas that you would never expect love and compliment my tattoos...

Go out there, be respectful and enjoy yourself. Don't listen to social media.

Also, if you are going to go to a Buddhist temple; don't do the Shinto prayer. We went to Kotoku-in and saw some other tourists go up to the Buddha; clap their hand and bow. We saw this many times and it was just interesting to see that.