Yamanaka Onsen, Higashimachi, on the Kakusenkei gorge above the Daishoji river Ryokan

Kissho Yamanaka

吉祥やまなか

Does Kissho Yamanaka allow tattoos? Yes!

Nothing to cover

Kissho Yamanaka writes that it has no tattoo restriction and then, in the same sentence, that it asks guests not to show a tattoo that could intimidate anyone, so a small piece is fine and a full back is a conversation at the desk. Its three private baths are free and sit ready for that case.

The inn’s bath page puts the rule under both of its large baths: tattoos are not restricted, but tattoos that could look intimidating or make other guests uncomfortable are declined. That leaves the call to the staff, and the page gives no size or style that counts. Three private baths (cypress, rock and stone) cost nothing for 50 minutes, booked on arrival in the order guests ask, which is the safe route for anything large.

Where it is

Kanazawa is the door. Yamashiro, Yamanaka and Katayamazu are eighteen minutes on the Shinkansen to Kaga-Onsen and then a local bus of ten to thirty minutes. Awara is the next Shinkansen stop, 26 minutes, and eight minutes on the Keifuku bus. Awazu is the IR Ishikawa Railway, the old JR line, 38 minutes, and a short bus. Komatsu Airport, with flights from Tokyo Haneda, is closer to these towns than Kanazawa is.. Kissho Yamanaka · map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · open in Google Maps

JR Hokuriku Area Pass Four days on the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tsuruga and Kurobe-Unazukionsen, non-reserved, for 7,000 yen. It covers the ride from Kanazawa to Kaga-Onsen; the Hokutetsu Kaga bus from the station is paid separately. Worth it if Awara, Unazuki or a second Kaga town is on the same trip. Sold on Klook.

What happens when you arrive

Check in and go to the bath. There is no seal to buy and nothing to declare.

How we know

Confirmed from official site (the note under Shirasagi-no-yu and again under Kiku-no-yu on the inn’s 温泉 page)

Read on: kissho-yamanaka.com/hotspring/

※タトゥー・刺青の制限はございませんが、すべてのお客様が快適にお過ごしいただけるよう、威圧感や不快感を与える可能性のあるタトゥー・刺青は、ご遠慮いただいております。

The operator’s own wording on that page. Nothing here needs showing at a desk. If anyone does ask, show them this. It is the operator’s own wording.

Best for: A small or discreet tattoo in a riverside open-air bath, with a free private bath held in reserve

The wording is new to the guide: no restriction in principle, with the house reserving the right to turn away a tattoo it judges intimidating. Private baths 一笑 and 竹雀 (open-air) and 友琴 (indoor, barrier-free) run 13:00–23:00 and 6:00–10:30, 50 minutes each, free, booked at the desk after arrival (FAQ: 当日先着順で50分無料). Large baths 13:00–01:00 and 01:45–11:00, men and women swapped overnight; saunas in both. Guests may also use the baths at the sister inn Kagari Kisshotei by shuttle, and that inn publishes no tattoo rule of its own. Open and selling rooms: Booking.com had rates for 3 February 2027 when checked on 16 September 2026; the Yamanaka Onsen association lists it among current member inns. Not in the Noto earthquake zone.

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