Quick answer: wash thoroughly before entering, no swimsuits, and — this is the part that’s changing fast — tattoo rules are loosening at a growing number of onsen in 2026. Check the specific facility rather than assuming either way.

The basics:

• Wash and rinse completely at the seated shower stations before stepping into the bath — the bath water itself is shared and never touched by soap.
• No swimsuits in most traditional onsen; bathing is nude, separated by gender (private baths, called kashikiri-buro, are the exception).
• A small towel can be brought to the bathing area for modesty, but it must never touch the water — most people fold it on their head.
• Tie up long hair, and skip photos entirely — other bathers have zero expectation of being photographed.

Tattoos — what’s actually changing in 2026: onsen have traditionally banned visible tattoos due to their historical association with organized crime, and many still do. But 2025–2026 has brought a real shift: Kinohana-no-yu removed its tattoo ban in April 2025, Alpenblick Resort followed in December 2025, and — the biggest signal yet — Mitsui Fudosan Hotel Management is removing tattoo restrictions at 24 facilities (Celestine Hotels, Mitsui Garden Hotels, and sequence) starting March 1, 2026. Japan’s Tourism Agency has also been pushing guidelines since 2024 that favor cover-up seals over outright refusal.

If you have tattoos: check the specific facility’s policy before you go rather than assuming either the old or new norm applies — it varies a lot by operator right now. Cover-up seals are widely accepted where bans remain, and booking a private bath sidesteps the issue entirely.

FAQ

• Can I wear a swimsuit? Not at most traditional onsen — private baths are the workaround if you’re not comfortable with nude bathing.
• Are there mixed-gender options? Rare, but some ryokan offer private baths (kashikiri-buro) that couples or families can reserve together.
• Do I need my own towel? Usually not — most facilities provide or rent both a large and small towel.

Which One Should You Actually Buy? Best Japan SIM Card & eSIM Picks for 2026

Coming from Part 1: SIM vs eSIM vs Pocket WiFi?

• First trip to Japan and want English support? Go with Sakura Mobile.
• Traveling on a budget? IIJmio or b-mobile — from about ¥3,000.
• Want zero hassle before you land? Airalo eSIM — install the app, activate the moment your plane touches down.
• Staying a month or more? Mobal — it even includes a real Japanese phone number.

Don’t waste your first day in Japan hunting for WiFi

Install it before you board — your eSIM is already connected the second you land.

⚡ Activates on arrival
🏪 No shop visit
💳 No roaming bill shock

Get Your Japan eSIM Now →

2-minute setup · works the moment you land

You can order online before you fly, pick it up at the airport, or grab one at Bic Camera or Yodobashi in the city.

Five minutes of setup, and you’re connected for the whole trip — no more hunting for WiFi at every convenience store.

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• Hotel vs Ryokan in Japan: Which Should You Choose? (2026)
• What NOT to Do in Japan: 6 Mistakes Tourists Actually Get Fined or Called Out For (2026)