Where the concierge points people first
- Ryugendo Tebori Tattooing — A Minato studio working in tebori, the traditional Japanese method of hand-carving the ink with a rod of needles rather than a machine. Slower, and large pieces run over many sessions; this is appointment work, not a walk-in. (35.6630, 139.7365)
- Inscribe Tattoo Harajuku — One of two Inscribe studios on this list, the other in Ueno. The studio publishes in English as well as Japanese, which makes it a straightforward first enquiry for a visitor. (35.6694, 139.7085)
- Kagerou Asakusa Flagship Studio — The Asakusa base of Kagerou, which also appears here with an Ikebukuro studio. Asakusa suits it: the neighborhood where the old Edo imagery of koi and dragons still feels at home. (35.7110, 139.7950)
- EXTREME BODY PIERCING Harajuku — For piercing rather than ink, on the Harajuku side of Shibuya. Ask what jewelry material they use for a fresh piercing before you choose. (35.6704, 139.7053)
The rest of the tattoo studios in Tokyo — every one we hold
- Apocaript (35.7010, 139.7035)
- B_iNK studio.スカルプインク/ネイル/コスメティックタトゥー/新宿/美容タトゥー (35.6876, 139.6973)
- Bad Hands Tokyo (35.6708, 139.6904)
- Black Eyes Tattoo (35.6491, 139.6819)
- Blade Ink (35.6544, 139.7056)
- Boilin' Point (35.7128, 139.7023)
- Bright Beauty (35.7105, 139.7778)
- Choosy'chooseyHAIR本店/c'cDEUX2号店 (35.7063, 139.7181)
- Fineline Tattoo and Piercing Tokyo (35.7108, 139.7732)
- Gate Bridge (35.6621, 139.7059)
- Graphic Tribe Tattoos (35.6455, 139.7147)
- Gray Tattoo (35.6968, 139.7572)
- Gray Tattoo (35.6586, 139.6963)
- H&M's Tattoo Ueno Studio (35.7092, 139.7758)
- High Five Tattoo (35.6703, 139.7057)
- High FiveTattoo (35.6666, 139.7112)
- INK harbor yokosuka (35.6826, 139.7771)
- Inkillusion TATTOO (35.6626, 139.7011)
- Inscribe Tattoo Ueno (35.7095, 139.7758)
- Joytown tattoo studio (35.6755, 139.7090)
- Jugemu Tattoo (35.6431, 139.6710)
- Kirie Bijou (35.7052, 139.7757)
- La perra negra Tattoo Tokyo (35.6676, 139.7075)
- MEDI STORE ラフォーレ原宿店 (35.6690, 139.7054)
- Mucho (35.7093, 139.7741)
- paradox angelique marmalade (35.6625, 139.6976)
- PopInk Tokyo (35.6892, 139.7227)
- Rainfall Tattoo (35.6489, 139.6945)
- RIN-KG Tattoo Studio (35.6525, 139.7040)
- Seek Tattoo (35.7114, 139.7946)
- Smog House Tattoo (35.7106, 139.7788)
- SOIL INK Tattoo (35.6906, 139.7102)
- SPIN tattoo studio (35.6347, 139.7124)
- Studio Ink (35.6683, 139.7642)
- studio MSR (35.6723, 139.6874)
- studio muscat (35.6542, 139.7029)
- Sunsqlit Tattoo (35.6631, 139.7012)
- Sunsqlit Tattoo 原宿 (35.6649, 139.7024)
- Swallow Art Tattoo Tokyo (35.7052, 139.7747)
- T.F.T.D. Tattoo Shop (35.7057, 139.6729)
- Tattoo House TieZ (35.7103, 139.7980)
- Tattoo Parlor Holie Glory (35.6675, 139.7062)
- Tattoo Studio BIG SEVEN 彫七 Hori-Shichi (35.6855, 139.7300)
- Tattoo Studio KAGEROU Ikebukuro (35.7258, 139.7197)
- Tattoo Studio Ray's Tokyo (35.6771, 139.7078)
- Tattoo Studio SEEK (35.6948, 139.7032)
- Tattooshop fuga (35.6934, 139.7071)
- THE GOOD CAT SCRATCH | Fine Line Tattoos Tokyo (35.6415, 139.6951)
- The Ink Salon Tokyo (35.6709, 139.6904)
- Third Home Tattoo (35.6418, 139.6954)
- Tifana Tattoo (35.6536, 139.7035)
- Tokyo Shinjuku FOX GATE TATTOO (35.6861, 139.6971)
- Tokyo Three Tides (35.6709, 139.7077)
- Trip On Design Tattoo Studio (35.6491, 139.6820)
- Worxx Tokyo Tattoo (35.6933, 139.7065)
- Zelkova Ink (35.6716, 139.7035)
- アートメイク Do’contour ﾄﾞｩｺﾝﾄｱ 東京院 (35.6456, 139.7065)
- アンティーク撮影スタジオunikk (35.6632, 139.7031)
- タトゥースタジオKagerou (35.6932, 139.7840)
- マジックタトゥー (35.6987, 139.6977)
- メディカルブロー新宿院 (35.6920, 139.7031)
- メディカルブロー表参道院 (35.6653, 139.7091)
- 三軒茶屋・駒沢・自由が丘の美容室impression(インプレッション) (35.6386, 139.6718)
- 初代彫ひと一門恵比寿彫こく EBISU Horikoku (35.6442, 139.7111)
- 刺龍堂 - Shi Ryu Doh - (35.6213, 139.6790)
- 和芳友 刺青−WAKATOMO TATTOO (Booking only) (35.6957, 139.6962)
- 銀座ASSU (35.6731, 139.7651)
No license means the hygiene questions are yours to ask
In 2020 Japan's Supreme Court ruled that tattooing is not a medical act, which ended the threat of prosecuting tattooists without a medical license. The flip side is that there is still no dedicated license or inspection regime for studios, so hygiene is down to each one. Ask plainly: single-use needles opened in front of you, an autoclave for anything reused, gloves changed between tasks. Most established artists work by appointment with a deposit, and many ask for a design consultation first. Plan around aftercare too; many onsen, sentō and gyms refuse visible tattoos.
Questions people ask
What are the best tattoo studios in Tokyo for foreigners?
Inscribe Tattoo Harajuku publishes in English and is an easy first enquiry; Ryugendo Tebori Tattooing is the choice for traditional hand-poked work; Kagerou Asakusa Flagship Studio suits classic Japanese imagery.
How many tattoo studios are there in Tokyo?
Num's directory maps 71 tattoo and piercing studios in Tokyo with coordinates. A few rows are cosmetic or eyebrow clinics rather than tattoo studios.
Can you get a walk-in tattoo in Tokyo?
Small flash pieces sometimes, at studios that say so, but most Tokyo artists work by appointment with a deposit. Message ahead with the design, size and placement.
Ask Num which tattoo studios in Tokyo take English-speaking clients
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