Tattoo Friendly Gyms in Osaka

[Cyka UchuuJin]

I've just been turned down by both Oasis and Konami. I don't wear shorts or sandals in the gym, so mine wouldn't be visible, but they still said no because I'd have to take my socks off in the changing room and they'd be visible then. Am a bit pissed off by this, as my friend who's a member at Oasis says he sees hosts in there all the time with tattoos.

And before anyone jumps on me with the 'see the thread about the guy with the tattooed head, japan isn't in the 21st century, blah blah', I fully respect the Japanese mainstream disapproval because of the Yak thing and am not looking to get into a debate about it. I just want to find a gym that will let me work out.

[Behan]

I knew a couple of guys in Konami who just wore long sleeves all the time to hide them. Couldn't you just lie, or fail to mention that you had tatoos?

Not a helpful post, I know. I am not being judgmental. I would rather see your tatoos than my fat stomach.

[FG Lurker]

Your best bet is probably to just sign up and not mention the tats. If no one sees em and complains about em you'll be fine.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

i know you're not being judgemental, behan. unfortunately i was stupid enough to be honest and tell them that i've got tattoos, so i've blown it at the two gyms nearest to me already.

you're probably right, FG Lurker, but the oasis membership form said that if tattoos are spotted by any staff member, membership will be revoked without refund. for me, one of the best parts of working out is having a nice long sauna afterwards. there's no hiding anything there.

[FG Lurker]

for me, one of the best parts of working out is having a nice long sauna afterwards. there's no hiding anything there.

Unfortunately I don't think any of the large gyms are going to be very accommodating. I'm not sure if things have improved in Tokyo or not but in Kansai (I'm also in Osaka) it can still be pretty difficult.

If you have one or two small tats that you can cover or if you can keep them under clothing then you shouldn't have troubles. If you have more than that then unfortunately I don't have any helpful ideas.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

Unfortunately I don't think any of the large gyms are going to be very accommodating. I'm not sure if things have improved in Tokyo or not but in Kansai (I'm also in Osaka) it can still be pretty difficult.

If you have one or two small tats that you can cover or if you can keep them under clothing then you shouldn't have troubles. If you have more than that then unfortunately I don't have any helpful ideas.

when the boyfriend and i are in tokyo, we're at the park hyatt and they know i've got tattoos, but they are ok with it because i keep them covered in all public places and i don't use the pool.

i've got one that is down my spine, and around my ankles. all of them are covered when i'm working out, i wear trackies (hate wearing shorts or vests anyway). i already realise that the sauna would be out, i do realise i'm a guest in japan and not about to fight the system for my own personal statement.

i suppose i could give it a go at the other oasis that's in shinsaibashi, and go straight home to clean up, so i'll just be the disgusting gaijin that doesn't shower. the amemura one didn't get my name and i don't know how much info they share between them.

i hear gold's gym is ok with tattoos as long as you cover them in the public areas. but it's up in umeda and i'm in horie.

[FG Lurker]

I wouldn't worry about it if you can keep them covered. Generally speaking the staff aren't going to care as long as you don't "disturb the wa".

I highly doubt the different locations share information. The only thing that might happen is that staff may float between the two locations. If you're worried about it maybe try Tipness if there is one around you.

[Iraira]

when the boyfriend and i ...

Thanks for breaking my heart with that one.

i've got one that is down my spine, and around my ankles

Thanks for pouring salt on the wounds covering my broken heart.

Tipness doesn't seem to care as long as the ink is covered while working out.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

Thanks for breaking my heart with that one.


Thanks for pouring salt on the wounds covering my broken heart.

Tipness doesn't seem to care as long as the ink is covered while working out.

i've just injected a huge syringe full of lidocaine into my foot, want i shoot some into your chest?

right, tipness. apparently there is one in namba somewhere, which is a 8 or so minute bike ride from me. thanks for the tip, will see if i can find them.

edit: there doesn't seem to be a tipness in namba anymore, only tenoji, which is too far. think i'm gonna have to try to blag it into the other oasis in shinsaibashi and just keep my head down.

[Gilligan]

My wife has a friend who covers the tat on her arm with tape and no one seems to mind one bit. It's possible you could do that and still MAYBE take a sauna.

[CrankyBastard]

Run around the block a few times, go home and take a shower.
Save money and hassle.

[kusai Jijii]

I say fuck 'em. Go for a run and then take a sauna / bath at your local sento.
Done.
KJ

[Iraira]

Do the run around the block thing, but skip the shower and sell your sweaty clothes to sukebe oyaji.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

i run 5-10km every day. need the weights and elliptical machines for cross training and low impact cardio.

i took my japanese speaking mate down to the other oasis and we blagged it. just going to keep well covered up and change in the toilets.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

My wife has a friend who covers the tat on her arm with tape and no one seems to mind one bit. It's possible you could do that and still MAYBE take a sauna.

i think i'm out of luck on the sauna, my tattoos are on the ankles and down my spine. as posted above, i blagged it into one of the oasis gyms that isn't very busy and will just keep myself well covered up. or if i really want a sauna, i'll go super early in the morning or at a really dead time.

[Behan]

How about Gold's Gym? They are a foreign chain, I think, so maybe they would be less strict.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

How about Gold's Gym? They are a foreign chain, I think, so maybe they would be less strict.

it's in umeda, which isn't really local for me. and of all of the gyms, they are the most expensive.

i worked out at oasis today and had no problems. just kept myself covered up and changed in/out of my workout gear in the toilet.

i do think it's a bit weird that the mainstream gyms haven't started instituting a 'cover up and we'll overlook you' policy though. 'fashion tattoos', like the tramp stamps or the little ankle/wrist ones are really popular, especially in shinsaibashi/amemura. i think it's quite easy to make a distinction between the wannabe hiphop j-girl and the hardcore yak man. but it's japan, what will be, will be. am not gonna fight the system, just slip through the cracks a bit.

[Captain Spaulding]

Just hide your tattoos and you won't have a problem. Or are you the type of guy that likes to prance around the locker room with your wanky hanging out? What's the deal with the guys who do that? There's one guy in Gold's Gym (north Tokyo) that is naked for hours in the locker room.

[CrankyBastard]

There's another guy in there for hours, watching him.

[Captain Spaulding]

I can see how you might have gotten that from my posting...dick. haha very funny.

[kusai Jijii]

When I lived in Osaka, I used to go to the Cospa chain to work out. My yankie mate had tats on his shoulders. he used to get so sick of waiting for me while I took my sauna, that one day he decided to enter the sauna with a t-shirt on. When the staff dude came in, he told my friend that he was not allowed to wear t-shirts in the sauna. When asked why, the staff replied that "Its dangerous. You might catch on fire". I have never laughed so hard at somebody so stupid in all my entire life.

[omae mona]

When the staff dude came in, he told my friend that he was not allowed to wear t-shirts in the sauna. When asked why, the staff replied that "Its dangerous. You might catch on fire".

Uh-oh.. now I'm getting mighty worried about that little towel I sometimes have with me in the sauna, dangerously close to me privates.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Just hide your tattoos and you won't have a problem. Or are you the type of guy that likes to prance around the locker room with your wanky hanging out? What's the deal with the guys who do that? There's one guy in Gold's Gym (north Tokyo) that is naked for hours in the locker room.

Cyka's a girl.

[Tengu Kid]

Good luck Cyka.
My ex -girlfriend worked in a gym and she HAD to throw people out with tattoos because the supervisors would threaten to fire staff who didnt. Sucks.
She`d always look the other way when people had them covered...Hope your staff will do the same!

[Visitor K]

hmm.. gyms must be harder on gaijin with tattoos than the onsen. i never had a problem going to hot springs or anywhere with tattoos. i wonder why that is.

[Tengu Kid]

hmm.. gyms must be harder on gaijin with tattoos than the onsen. i never had a problem going to hot springs or anywhere with tattoos. i wonder why that is.

You just go in an onsen once whereas you join a gym for an extended period of time...so part of what they have to ask when theyre signing you up is whether or not you have tattoos. Guess they have to as gym going Oba sans complain shit loads about fuck all.
In my ex`s gym some uzai old woman started complaining about a particular woman whos washing powder smelt too strong! Instead of telling her to go frig herself they actually called the woman in and requested that she use less of, or change, her washing powder. Mental.

[Visitor K]

i guess ive been out of japan too long and forgot how anal the japanese tend to be.

[Tengu Kid]

i guess ive been out of japan too long and forgot how anal the japanese tend to be.

Can be a pain huh

[Captain Spaulding]

I saw a guy catch on fire once in the sauna. It was horrible. Then he stopped, dropped and rolled and he was all good.