Goza-no-yu
御座之湯
Does Goza-no-yu allow tattoos? Yes!
A bathhouse rebuilt in the Edo manner on the edge of the Yubatake, with two bath halls — one lined in wood, one in stone — that swap between the men’s and women’s sides. It opens at seven in the morning, which makes it the first bath of the day for most people who stay in town.
No restriction, and nothing to cover. The company that runs Kusatsu’s three public baths answers this in its own FAQ: it does not refuse admission or bathing to people with tattoos, and asks only that everyone keep to bathing manners.
What happens when you arrive
Check in and go to the bath: no seal to buy, no measuring, nothing to declare.
How we know
Confirmed Confirmed from official site (the operator's own FAQ, covering all three baths)
Read on: onsen-kusatsu.com/gozanoyu/faq/
三湯（大滝乃湯、御座之湯、西の河原露天風呂）では、刺青（タトゥー）のある方の入館、入浴を特にお断りはしておりません。訪日外国人旅行者も含めまして、多種多様な文化的背景を受け入れると共に、どなたでもマナー遵守の上で草津温泉を楽しんでいただきたいと思っております。
The operator’s own wording on that page. Nothing here needs showing at a desk — but if anyone does ask, this settles it without either of you needing the other’s language.
Best for: A first bath on arrival — it is the one you walk straight into off the Yubatake
07:00–21:00 from 1 April to 30 November, 08:00–21:00 the rest of the year; last admission 20:30.
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