If you’re a foreigner, avoid this place at all costs. Checked in and was told “No tattoos in the onsen”—of which much has been written about internationally already, so won’t add to the ridiculousness of having this conversation in 2024—to which I said “I understand” and laughed with the lady, showing her both of my arms covered. I was booked for three nights. The next morning, I walked to the personal shower area and was physically stopped by an employee saying I couldn’t even shower with tattoos. I’d never encountered this before, asked a few questions and finally explained that I was here for 3 nights, and maybe I could just shower quickly a few minutes after the 10am check-out time, when no one was there. This was also refused, and so I then had to go downstairs and ask them to cancel my reservation, so that I could find another hotel that would allow a person with tattoos to shower. They refused, saying it was my choice to cancel, and I could just stay there and not shower, only adding to the shameful, greedy and immoral way of running a business—especially in a town with lots of tourists. After an hour on the phone with Expedia, they forced this hotel to cancel my reservation, and I finally was able to check out.
Long story short, in a country that goes above and beyond to welcome visitors, to treat them with respect, and to make sure their travels in Japan are enjoyable, there are still some who only see money, who refuse to join the rest of the world in 2024 with th