Finding A Gym When You Have Tattoos in Japan

Tattoos can keep you out of large fitness centers and gyms in Japan, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have options.

Getting into shape can be tricky. For those with body art, it’s not just about the physical effort, either. Finding a gym when you have tattoos in Japan is often more challenging than many expect. Many facilities have strict anti-tattoo policies that remain in place with little to no compromise.

You’d think gyms would have realized that turning away people with tattoos is bad for business in this day and age, but apparently, it’s not bad enough.

Many onsens (hot springs) and other such facilities have changed their policies to accept tattooed tourists. Gyms, on the other hand, seem to be doubling down on their anti-tattoo stance. I ran into this myself several years back and made a list of all the gyms I couldn’t go to. It turns out that anything that’s a chain gym, including international chains, will probably turn you down flat.

The only chain that was open-minded and got my business was Curves for Women. However, with limited locations and obviously being for women only, that’s not an option for everyone.

The Tattoo Policies At Major Chain Gyms

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Here is my list of major chain gyms and their tattoo policies as of 2025:

Gyms That Ban People With Tattoos Outright

• Tokyo Sports Oasis
• Joy Fit Group
• Konami Sports Club
• Central Sports

You cannot join these gyms, period. If you are found to have lied about having a tattoo when you joined, or get one after the fact, you will still be kicked out regardless. Your local branch of said gym might be willing to forgive your tattoo, but don’t expect this from all locations.

In some cases, you might even have to pay for the rest of the month or next month after you’ve been expelled due to their billing schedules (according to three Japanese/foreign individuals).

Gyms That Accept Fully Covered Tattoos

• Anytime Fitness
• Fast Gym 24
• World Plus Gym
• Mira Fitness
• Gold’s Gym

This means that when applying to join the gym, you must disclose that you have a tattoo, show them the tattoo and then they will decide how to proceed.

For example, if you have one small (¥500 coin size or smaller) design, they will note it down. You will be required to keep it covered at all times, but you can (most likely) join the gym. If you have multiple/larger tattoos, your experience will vary. You may be allowed to join, but on the condition that you do not use the pool/sauna, or you might be politely declined.

If you are allowed to join, the emphasis is on keeping it fully covered. Just covering it with a T-shirt or clothing is not enough. Those could slip and accidentally expose your ink to public attention.

In my friend’s experience at Gold’s Gym, he took off a sweatshirt, which left part of a chest tattoo peeking out of the V-neck of his T-shirt when he was on the treadmill. Another member complained that he saw the said tattoo, and my friend’s membership was canceled.

How Do You ‘Fully Cover’ A Tattoo?

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There are plenty of liquid tattoo covers out there, and two of the best are Mehron and TatJacket. That being said, they take time to apply and dry fully and might not be as water/sweatproof as you require. In that case, your other options are either tattoo covers or muscle tape.

Tattoo Covers

Tattoo covers are flesh-colored sheets of plastic that you apply over your tattoo. They can be applied like a bandage: remove the backing and stick it over the tattoo. Or, like a temporary tattoo: remove the film, wet it, apply it with pressure and pat it dry.

You can easily find them online by searching for tattoo covers on Amazon Japan or Rakuten. The issue here is with skin tone. If you do not fall within their standard “pale, pink, tan or ochre” shade range, I’m afraid this isn’t an option for you yet.

Muscle Tape

Muscle tape, on the other hand, is far more readily available, cheaper, and lasts the longest of the three options. Plus, it comes in a rainbow selection of colors, so you can match it to your gym clothes, skin tone or whatever mood you’re in.

Also called elastic therapeutic tape or kinesiology tape, muscle tape is literally tape you stick over muscles in the hope of preventing/treating pain. It’s widely considered a pseudoscientific treatment (basically a placebo) but is widely accepted for its supposed benefits. You’ll find it readily in pharmacies, ¥100 shops and sundries stores like Don Quijote, Tokyu Hands or Loft. It’s also available online in a wider variety of colors than found in most stores.

Is It Discrimination?

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This is a topic that not many are willing to discuss. It brings out a lot of issues regarding discrimination between the Japanese (“Only burakumin have tattoos” Japanese man, 55) and the Japanese against foreign nationals as well.

There was the story of the New Zealand academic with traditional Maori facial tattoos being denied entry to a Hokkaido hot spring in 2013, as well as fears before and after the 2019 World Rugby Cup and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics… It’s a subject that has been heavily covered by the Japanese and international media.

If your tattoos are a part of your cultural heritage, then you can technically lodge a complaint against the gym for racism. However, the burden of proof falls on you to prove the connection between your tattoo and your culture.

Plus, you have to have proof that they banned or barred you from accessing because of it and not for any other reason. A tricky thing to prove in terms of a gym, at least. It’s a fight that I’ve seen many give up on because “it’s not like you’d want to join a place that treated you like garbage and admitted to it” (Japanese, 30s).

You could try making a complaint or contacting the Fitness Industry Association of Japan to plead your case, but from what I’ve heard from other tattooed individuals, despite their claims of protecting consumers, they side with the Japanese gym in the majority of cases.

Other Options

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They’re not as limited as they might seem. You can:

• Train at home or local park
• Visit your ward gym
• Hire a personal trainer and use their facilities/equipment
• Try one of the non-chain gyms in your neighborhood

Your Local City Gym

Most people don’t even know that they have a ward gym or public sports facilities in their neighborhood. These are owned by your city and paid for by your taxes. So long as you live in that ward, you are eligible to use the sports facilities for free (or a reduced rate) whether you have tattoos or not.

That being said, you aren’t entirely out of the woods at a ward gym, either. If your ward gym is popular, you will need to share the time and equipment. If it isn’t popular, the equipment options could be limited or significantly out of date. Keep in mind that ward gyms are not open 24 hours a day and sometimes not on weekends, either.

Also, if your ward gym has a pool, you will be very strongly encouraged to tape over your tattoos. Swimming with a T-shirt on isn’t allowed, so you may be asked to wear “rash guards” (those fake sleeves that come up to your shoulders).

The Toshima City Ikebukuro Sports Center and the Shinjuku Sports Center specify this on their websites. I have been told these are also expected at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium and the Shinagawa City Sports Association.

Personal Trainers

Hiring a personal trainer is a good option if you have the disposable income, time and dedication to your workouts to justify it. While a simple Google search brings up several lists of trainers ostensibly available, it was harder to find reviews of their work.

A good service to check for personal trainers is Zehitomo. It’s a website where you can find local professionals in various industries.

Two personal trainer services that are also highly recommended are:

• Personal Fit: Has its own studio. Depending on the service you require, you can also work with its trainers at your ward gym or outdoors.
• Nihon Barbell Club: Does not travel as far for clients but has a more no-nonsense approach to fitness that many find inspiring.

Depending on what kind of training you want to do and how much you want to work out, finding the perfect gym can be a lot of work. However, because they are local, they tend to take a more “evaluate you as a person” approach rather than blanket tattoo bans. Naturally, some do, but some are also more relaxed on the keep-it-covered rules (no tape or foundation necessary).

Two in Tokyo that I have heard good things about are:

• Powerhouse Gym: Run by Hide Yamagishi, located in Hatsudai
• Hero Gym: Run by Shin Kodama, located in Toshima

Anyone with an interest in bodybuilding will recognize those names. They have both participated in several International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness events. They are also both tattooed, so make of that what you will.

Whether you have a tiny heart on your ankle or a full-body Japanese design, there are plenty of ways to get fit and feel better in your inked skin.

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