Tattoos are still a taboo in Japan. While they are not illegal, having an inked skin can sometimes prevent people from enjoying certain quintessentially Japanese experiences such as taking a bath in an onsen or sento, or even swimming in a pool. Unfortunately, many of these establishments do not admit people with tattoos – even some public beaches prohibit tattoos. However, there’s no need to get discouraged as there are ways to work around this inconvenience.