Palm-size in Seattle
$350–$850
For a single palm-sized image (2–3.5 hours). Sleeves and back pieces run into the thousands over many sessions.
Ages well
5/5
Decorative Japanese tattooing took shape in the Edo period. A major spark was the 1757 Japanese edition of the Chinese novel Suikoden, whose woodblock-print illustrations showed heroes covered in elaborate tattoos. Tattooing was outlawed early in the Meiji period and legalized by the occupation forces in 1948. It kept a criminal stigma, and many Japanese baths and gyms still ban tattoos. In 2020, Japan's Supreme Court ruled that tattooing doesn't require a medical license. Masters such as Horiyoshi III and the hand-tattooing technique tebori are still revered.
A Japanese piece is planned as a whole: a main subject such as a koi, dragon, tiger, phoenix or folk hero, paired with seasonal flowers and set against a background of wind bars, waves or clouds that ties the design to the body's shape. Strong black, bold outlines and traditional color are central. It suits people ready to commit to a large project over many sessions. Seattle's ties to Japan run deep, through its historic Japantown (Nihonmachi) and its sister-city relationship with Kobe, but the more important choice is an artist trained in the style's imagery and composition rules.
Japanese work gets an aging score of 5 out of 5. Heavy black backgrounds, bold outlines and large scale mean the design stays readable for decades, even as lines soften. Palm-sized single images are possible, but the style shows best when given room.
38 studios in Washington list Japanese (irezumi) work, 11 of them in Seattle. Always check an artist's portfolio — style is about the artist, not the shop. See the 67 artists who list it.
Showing all 11 studios
Photo: studio websiteBelltown, Seattle
Liberty Tattoo is a tattoo studio located in Belltown at 2702 3rd Ave in Seattle. The studio describes work in traditional tattooing, fine line black and grey, lettering, and Japanese styles.
Ballard, Seattle
Slave to the Needle Tattoo is a tattoo and body-piercing studio with a Ballard location at 508 NW 65th Street in Seattle. The studio offers tattoo styles including Japanese, traditional, neo-traditional, and realistic, and says its artists do custom work.
Capitol Hill, Seattle
True Love Tattoo and Art Gallery is a tattoo studio and art gallery in Capitol Hill, Seattle. The site lists styles including Japanese traditional, black & grey realism, color work, geometric designs, and dotwork, and says consultations are free.
Wallingford, Seattle
Slave to the Needle is a tattoo studio at 403 NE 45th Street in Seattle. The site lists Japanese, traditional, neo-traditional, and realistic tattoos, and says its artists do custom work. Tattoo bookings are made by phone or in person.
Ballard, Seattle
Rabid Hands Tattoo is a custom and flash tattoo studio in Ballard, Seattle. It offers tattoos in traditional, neo-traditional, illustrative, fine-line, and Japanese styles, among others.
Columbia City, Seattle
Lucky Dragon Tattoo is a neighborhood tattoo shop in Seattle. It offers custom tattoo designs, tattoo flash, and tattooing in styles including Japanese, American traditional, black and gray, and fine line.
Photo: studio websiteSeattle, WA
Top Hat Tattoo is a tattoo studio in the Top Hat Neighborhood of White Center, Seattle. The studio’s artists specialize in Japanese-style tattooing and American traditional tattoos, and the site says walk-ins are welcome.
Greenwood, Seattle
Strictly Irezumi, formerly Raijin Tattoo, is a tattoo studio in Seattle. It specializes in Japanese Irezumi and offers custom tattoos in styles including illustrative, fine line, micro-realism, realism, anime, and script.
Lake City, Seattle
3003 NE 120th St
Queen Anne, Seattle
511 2nd Ave W
Downtown, Seattle
1512 4th Ave
Showing all 27 studios
Spokane, WA
Tiger Tattoo is a tattoo studio on E. Sprague Ave in Spokane, Washington. It offers custom, flash, and cover-up tattoos and accepts walk-ins.
Lynnwood, WA
Foundation Body Arts is a tattoo and piercing studio in Lynnwood, Washington. The studio offers tattoos in styles including fine line, traditional, Japanese, and black and gray realism.
Spokane Valley, WA
Living Skin Tattoo is a tattoo studio in Spokane Valley, Washington, established in 2003. Its artists specialize in styles including Japanese, neo-traditional, black-and-grey, American traditional, illustrative, blackwork, and fine line.
Tacoma, WA
Ninth Tentacle Tattoo is a tattoo studio in Tacoma, Washington. The studio says its artists work in traditional Japanese and American designs, fine line, black and grey, and custom creations, and that walk-ins are welcome.
Spokane, WA
Iron & Gold Tattoo is a tattoo studio at 705 N Monroe St in Spokane, Washington. The studio lists American and Japanese traditional, black-and-grey, and fine-line tattooing, and offers cover-ups.
Spokane, WA
Main Ave Tattoo is a tattoo shop in Spokane, Washington. The shop offers custom tattoos and lists fine line, traditional, Japanese, and black-and-grey work among its offerings.
Lacey, WA
Bulldog Tattoo Parlor is a tattoo studio. The studio offers custom designs and large-scale work and states that its artists work across American traditional, Japanese traditional, fine line, bold line, color, black and grey, and realism styles.
Photo: studio websiteAirway Heights, WA
No Surrender Tattoo is a tattoo studio in Airway Heights, Washington. The studio offers American traditional, Japanese, black-and-grey, and cover-up tattooing, with custom designs and walk-ins; appointments are required to hold time.
Battle Ground, WA
Five Star Tattoo Co. is a tattoo studio in Battle Ground, Washington, that has served the area since 2002. The studio offers tattooing and piercing, and its artists describe styles and interests including black and grey, photo realism, Japanese traditional, and fine-line illustration.
Tacoma, WA
Rollin’ Gypsy Tattoo is a tattoo studio at 13923 Pacific Avenue South. It offers custom tattoos in styles including American Traditional, Japanese, realism, and black and gray.
Lynnwood, WA
Highmark Tattoo is a tattoo shop in Lynnwood, Washington, specializing in Japanese, realism, traditional, neo-traditional, and full-color illustrative tattooing. The studio offers one-on-one consultations and accepts walk-ins based on artist availability.
Tacoma, WA
Tattoo Asylum is a tattoo studio with artists who specialize in several tattoo styles. One artist seeks clients interested in creating custom, one-of-a-kind pieces.
1002 NE Minnehaha St · Vancouver
160 NW Gilman Blvd · Issaquah
19106 Wa-410 · Bonney Lake
921 Washington St · Port Townsend
1107 College St SE B · Lacey
723 Avenue D · Snohomish
175 Hansen Ln · Woodland
5508 NE Fourth Plain Blvd · Vancouver
2925 N Monroe St · Spokane
1210 East Main · Puyallup
103 Palouse St · Wenatchee
3702 Rucker Ave · Everett
601 Main St · Vancouver
111 Lake St S · Kirkland
103 E Holly St · Bellingham
Artists
Tattoo artist at True Love Tattoo & Art Gallery
Capitol Hill, Seattle
Tattoo artist at Slave to the Needle Tattoo
Ballard, Seattle
Tattoo artist at White Lotus Tattoo
Lake City, Seattle
Tattoo artist at Supergenius Tattoo
Capitol Hill, Seattle
Slave To The Needle · Wallingford
Top hat Tattoo and Top Hat Barber Shop · Seattle
Blood Orange · Fremont
Moonlight Tattoo · Roosevelt & Maple Leaf
Ying's Tattoo · Lake City
Hidden Hand Tattoo · Fremont
The Nova Expansion · Queen Anne
Rabid Hands Tattoo · Ballard
Slave To The Needle · Wallingford
Ink DaVinci Tattoo Shop · Downtown
The Nova Expansion · Queen Anne
Slave To The Needle · Wallingford
Lucky Dragon Tattoo Parlor · Columbia City
Hidden Hand Tattoo · Fremont
Slave to the Needle Tattoo · Ballard
Moonlight Tattoo · Roosevelt & Maple Leaf
Fenix Tattoo · Pioneer Square
Moonlight Tattoo · Roosevelt & Maple Leaf
Moonlight Tattoo · Roosevelt & Maple Leaf
Hidden Hand Tattoo · Fremont
Strictly Irezumi · Greenwood
Lucky Dragon Tattoo Parlor · Columbia City
Hidden Hand Tattoo · Fremont
Madame Lazonga's · Downtown
Sacred Soul Tattoo · Renton
Main Ave Tattoo · Spokane
Monroe Street Tattoo · Spokane
Gray State Tattoo · Marysville
Red Sparrow Tattoo Collective · Bellingham
Moon Tower Tattoo Shop · Bellingham
Mammoth Tattoo Studio · Kirkland
Autotroph Ink Tattoo · Tacoma
Voodoo Tattoo and Piercing · Vancouver
Stray Cat Tattoo · Snohomish
Main Ave Tattoo · Spokane
Spirit Flame Tattoo · Vancouver
Inkstaind Tattoo · Puyallup
Foundation Body Arts · Lynnwood
Cleopatra Ink · Tacoma
Stay Marked Tattoo · Issaquah
Living Skin Tattoo · Spokane Valley
Tiger Tattoo · Spokane
Steadfast Art Collective · Kirkland
Cleopatra Ink · Tacoma
Kristina Louise Tattoos · Wenatchee
Lux Studios VA · Vancouver
Five Star Tattoo Co · Battle Ground
The Hiding Spot · Bellingham
Cygni Tattoo · Tacoma
Living Skin Tattoo · Spokane Valley
Lotus Tattoo · Lacey
Foundation Body Arts · Lynnwood
Old School Tattoo & Piercing · Bellingham
Dark Star Tattoo · Vancouver
Spirit Flame Tattoo · Vancouver
Flaming Dragon Tattoo · Tacoma
Tattoo Asylum · Tacoma
Olympia Tattoo Co. · Olympia
Cicada Tattoo · Tacoma
Names, roles, styles and photos come from each studio’s own website, and every profile links to its source. Professional information only. How artist profiles work
It depends on the artist, the coverage and how well you heal, but a full Japanese sleeve is a multi-session project spread over months, and total tattooing time usually runs to dozens of hours. Background work and color packing take as much time as the main image. Ask your artist for a session plan and a rough total before you start.
Japanese-style tattooing is practiced worldwide, and many respected Japanese masters tattoo foreign clients. What matters is respect for the tradition: work with an artist trained in its imagery, learn what your design's elements mean, and avoid combining symbols carelessly. Kanji script added as decoration is the most common source of mistakes.