Japanese game art is loved all over the world. A small icon, a mask, a sword, or a crest can tell a whole story about who you are. At GOOD TIMES INK in Osaka, we make your Japanese game tattoo clear, readable, and personal. We speak English and plan around travel.
→ Book a free consultation
Book a Free Consultation (Contact)
Have an idea already—or still deciding? Send us a quick message with a screenshot or a short note. We’ll help you shape a game tattoo that fits your style, trip, and budget.
→ Contact
Game Tattoos Are Very Popular Worldwide
From retro classics to new titles, game tattoos are trending. Why?
- Instantly readable: clear icons, shapes, and inputs.
- Great at small sizes: perfect for travel schedules.
- Strong meaning: a title or item can mark a life moment.
- Timeless: simple symbols age well when designed right.
Why Get Your “Japanese Game Tattoo” in Japan
1) Closer to the original nuance
We live with these games every day. That helps us capture the true look—proportions, angles, line weight, and the “feel” fans notice at once.
2) Accurate language and culture
If you want katakana names, a small phrase, or UI‑style text, we check accuracy and layout so it reads clean and fits the game world.
3) Stronger “made‑in‑Japan” look with motif blends
In Japan, it’s easy to mix your game symbol with local motifs such as waves (seigaiha), sakura, brush‑stroke frames, crests (kamon), or clean kanji accents. The result looks truly “game + Japan,” not just a copy.
See motif ideas here → Kanji Tattoo
4) Travel‑friendly planning in Osaka
Short trip? No problem. We reply fast, keep designs efficient, and help you time the session near the end of your stay.
Why Choose GOOD TIMES INK (Osaka)
We know the famous Japanese titles
If it’s a well‑known game, we most likely know it already. We can suggest layouts (emblems, weapons, masks, inputs), small in‑jokes, and smart pairings that fans will get at a glance.
Browse our style and line quality → Tattoos (Gallery)
We’re great at “game × Japan” mixes
Want your emblem with waves, a brush frame, or a crest vibe? We design these blends every week. We keep edges clean and spacing open so the tattoo stays readable for years.
English‑friendly, traveler‑friendly
Simple English from start to aftercare. Clear steps, clear time plan, and quick feedback so you don’t lose sightseeing time.
→ Message us
Clean, private studio
Single‑use needles, hospital‑grade sanitation, calm private rooms, and clear aftercare made for travelers.
Bring references; we propose options
One screenshot is enough. Tell us what you like and what you don’t. We’ll propose 2–3 directions (size, placement, line weight, color vs. black & gray).
How to Decide: Style, Size & Placement
Styles that work well for game tattoos
- Pixel / Minimal Line: strong “game feel,” quick to do, great for wrists/ankles.
- Emblem / Crest: bold borders, easy to read; works well on forearm or shoulder.
- Black & Gray: calm look, ages clearly; great for weapons, masks, and crests.
- Color / Neo‑Trad: bold shapes and bright read; keep color count low for small pieces.
Placements
- Small: wrist, ankle, behind arm. Fast, subtle, and travel‑friendly.
- Medium: forearm, calf, upper arm. Best balance of detail and time.
- Large: thigh, back, or sleeve. Good for scenes or layered motifs.
Small vs. large: readability & longevity
Icons with clear negative space heal better and stay sharp. If you want many elements, go a size up so the lines don’t crowd.
Pokémon（ポケモン）
Pikachu – Color Work
Pikachu works beautifully as a tattoo because the shapes are clear, cute, and instantly recognizable. Some people prefer a simple, faithful version, while others enjoy mixing Pikachu with Japanese elements—ramen bowls, fox masks, kimono outfits, or any motif that feels personal.
Both styles are popular for travelers: keep it classic or combine it with something uniquely “Japan.” Bring your ideas, or tell us in the consultation and we’ll design the perfect mix for you.
Gyarados – Color Variant
A bold take on one of the most iconic evolution lines. Choosing the shiny red Gyarados instantly shows real fan energy, and the bright color work highlights every curve and scale. The small Magikarp surrounding it add movement and humor, making the whole piece feel lively and story-driven.
Charmander – Classic Color Style
A clean, faithful take on Charmander, one of the most iconic starters from the early Pokémon games. Bright oranges, soft shading, and the glowing tail flame keep the design true to the original while giving it a playful, friendly look.
Eevee – Black & Grey
A bold take on one of the most iconic evolution lines. Choosing the shiny red Gyarados instantly shows real fan energy, and the bright color work highlights every curve and scale. The small Magikarp surrounding it add movement and humor, making the whole piece feel lively and story-driven.
A clean, simple take on one of the most loved Pokémon. Eevee’s round face, big ears, and fluffy collar stay recognizable even without color, making black & grey a perfect fit for a softer, minimal style.
Eevee is also famous for its evolutions—Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, and more—so many travelers choose their favorite form or create a matching set.
Vaporeon – Geometric Mix
A creative take on Vaporeon that blends geometric shapes with soft black & grey shading. The added American Traditional-style flower gives it a layered, hybrid look—mixing game culture, modern linework, and classic tattoo elements into one cohesive piece.
Jolteon – Japanese Brush Style
A stylized Jolteon reimagined with Japanese ink flow and brush-stroke lines. The swirling patterns and bold black shapes give it a traditional, almost calligraphic feel—perfect for travelers who want a Pokémon tattoo that also carries a “Japan” aesthetic.
A unique blend of character design and classic Japanese art.
Gengar – Japanese Double-Tattoo Style
A playful take on Gengar, using a “double tattoo” look—adding traditional-style ink directly onto the character’s body. The sake bottle and kiseru pipe give it an extra Japanese twist, turning a globally loved Pokémon into a fun, culture-blended design.
Gengar remains one of the most popular choices among both Japanese and international fans.
Rayquaza – New School Color
A faithful take on the legendary Rayquaza, captured with bright, saturated New School color work. ESTO, one of our artists specializing in this style, matched the in-game palette closely—keeping the design bold, readable, and instantly recognizable for fans.
Mew × Luna – Crossover Design
A playful crossover combining Mew from Pokémon and Luna from Sailor Moon.
The artist blended both characters into a circular, floating layout with soft colors and sakura petals, giving the piece a gentle, Japanese-inspired mood.
If you have two favorite motifs—even from completely different anime or games—we can design a custom crossover through consultation.
Rotom – New School Edge Highlight
Two variations of Rotom recreated with bright, faithful in-game colors. The light-blue edge highlight adds a subtle New School vibe, giving the designs more bounce and contrast. Even if you’re not familiar with every Rotom form, the bold shapes and colors make them fun, readable tattoos.
Bug Pokémon – Glitch Style
Inspired by the famous “Bug Pokémon” from the original Red/Green era—glitch creatures that appeared through memory errors and hidden data. These designs play with corrupted shapes, broken outlines, and digital distortion, turning old-school game bugs into bold tattoo art.
A perfect style for fans who love the weird, mysterious side of early Pokémon.
Dratini – Minimal Linework
A simple Dratini drawn with clean, gentle lines. Its already–cute silhouette works perfectly in a minimal style, keeping the design light, soft, and easy to place anywhere. Proof that even small Pokémon can look elegant with just linework.
Dragonite – Soft Color Style
A gentle, faithful take on Dragonite, using warm oranges and soft shading to bring out its friendly personality. The rounded shapes and subtle gradients keep the tattoo bright and approachable—perfect for fans who love Dragonite’s kind, comforting vibe.
Snorlax – Pancake & Sakura Style
A playful Snorlax enjoying a huge stack of pancakes, rendered in soft, bright colors. The falling sakura petals add a gentle Japanese touch, turning the design into a fun mix of personality and “Japan trip” vibes.
Articuno – Classic Blue Color
A faithful color rendition of Articuno, one of the legendary birds from the early Pokémon games. The cool blues and long flowing tail give it a clean, elegant presence—easy to pair with floral, geometric, or other bird motifs for a unique custom piece.
任天堂（Nintendo）
Mario – Realistic 3D Color
A realistic take inspired by the modern 3D version of Mario, recreated with bright, saturated colors. The added white highlights make the piece glossy and vivid, giving it that polished “game render” look while still reading clearly as a tattoo.
Mario & Luigi – Skull-Style Remix
A unique reinterpretation of Mario and Luigi by our artist Horihiyu, turning both characters into his signature skull-style designs. The mix of bright cap colors with simplified bone forms gives the piece a playful but slightly dark twist—perfect for fans who want something familiar yet original.
Yoshi – Pixel Art Style
A pixel-style take on Yoshi, one of the most beloved characters in the Mario series. The 8-bit look keeps the retro charm alive, making it instantly recognizable for fans of Yoshi’s Island and classic Nintendo games. A simple, bold style that works great even in small sizes.
Dry Bones – Simple Linework
A clean linework version of Dry Bones, the skeletal form of a Koopa from the Mario series. By keeping the design minimal, the natural “white” of the skin becomes the character’s body color, making it a perfect example of how simple outlines can capture personality without heavy shading.
Boo – Trad / New School Mix
A hybrid take on Boo, blending Traditional-style flowers with New School colors and bold teal accents. The mix of bright tongue color and smooth shading gives it a fun, tattoo-forward look. Adding lettering turns the piece into a more personal, commemorative design.
Bowser – New School Knee Piece
A bold New School Bowser by our artist ESTO, packed with smooth gradients and bright, saturated colors that make the character feel alive on the skin. Knee pieces look amazing—
but because your legs get tired and walking becomes harder afterward, it’s best to schedule tattoos on joints toward the end of your trip.
Final Fantasy（FF）
Chocobo – Pixel Sign Style
A pixel-style Chocobo placed on a wooden sign, forming part of a larger full-sleeve piece. Chocobo is one of the most iconic motifs in the Final Fantasy series, and it works beautifully across many tattoo styles—from pixel art to realism.
Personally, we’d love to design a Chocobo paired with magic motifs someday.
Final Fantasy – Summon Full Sleeve
A full sleeve packed with iconic Final Fantasy summons, blended together into one dramatic composition. Filling an arm with your favorite game motifs is one of the most fun ways to build a tattoo—tell us what you love, and we can design a custom sleeve that reflects your world.
Keyblade – Black & Grey Trad Style
The Keyblade from Kingdom Hearts, reimagined in black & grey American Traditional style. The bold outlines and classic floral elements give the iconic weapon a timeless tattoo look. Kingdom Hearts remains especially popular among overseas fans, making this a frequently chosen motif.
Pikmin Trio – Simple Color Accents
A clean lineup of the three original Pikmin—red, blue, and yellow. The small differences in sprouts and colors make the design feel lively, and the three-tone palette works perfectly as a compact, colorful tattoo for fans.
White Pikmin – Trad-Style Reinterpretation
A trad-inspired take on the White Pikmin, known for its poisonous bite in later games. Our artist Horihina reimagined the character with softer lines and a cute, tattoo-friendly balance while keeping its original charm.
Olimar & Pikmin – Iconic Chase Scene
A playful scene of Olimar running from one of Pikmin’s most iconic creatures, supported by red, blue, and yellow Pikmin. The bright primary colors make the piece feel lively and “tattoo-like,” giving the whole design a fun, cohesive energy.
Smash Ball – Minimal Icon Style
The iconic Smash Ball logo from Super Smash Bros., done as a clean black silhouette. Logos and simple icons work especially well when you want something minimal, readable, and instantly recognizable without extra detail.
Marine Slime – Bold Color Work
A faithful color rendition of the Marine Slime from Dragon Quest, finished with ESTO’s signature red glow that makes the blue body pop. Slime characters are always a popular choice, but Dragon Quest has many tattoo-friendly monsters—personally, we’d love to see someone get a Mad Hand someday.
Metal Slime – Black & Grey Texture
A Metal Slime rendered in clean black & grey, using soft gradients to create a subtle metallic shine. The limited palette fits the character perfectly and shows how black & grey can still feel lively with the right texture and light.
Street Fighters（ストリートファイターズ）
Ryu – Hadouken
A classic icon of Japanese fighting games. The white gi, red headband, and forward blast create a silhouette that’s instantly recognizable worldwide. As a tattoo, Ryu works well because the motion and shapes stay readable even at small sizes.
This version uses an American Traditional-inspired look—bold lines, limited colors, and a clean red-blue contrast. A simple, punchy adaptation that keeps the character’s energy without over-detailing.
The Legend of Zelda（ゼルダの伝説）
Link – Pixel Style
A classic hero from one of Japan’s most famous adventure games. The blocky silhouette, green tunic, and raised sword make him instantly recognizable, and pixel art preserves the nostalgic charm of early gaming.
As a tattoo, pixel designs stay bold and readable, with clear borders and simple shading that hold up beautifully even at small sizes.
Zelda – Triforce Lily
A beloved hero from one of Japan’s most iconic adventure games. The blocky silhouette, green outfit, and raised sword are instantly recognizable, and pixel art keeps the nostalgic charm of early gaming intact.
As a tattoo, pixel-style designs work extremely well—clear borders, simple shading, and readable shapes that stay crisp even at small sizes. It captures the retro feeling of 8-bit games while still looking bold on skin.
Kirby – Milky Pastel Color
A soft, pastel take on Kirby holding a big ice cream cone. The milky mid-tones are packed cleanly, giving the colors a creamy, gentle look that fits Kirby’s personality perfectly. A bright, charming piece that stays cute even on small placements like the foot.
Step‑by‑Step: From Booking to Tattoo Day (Osaka)
- Consultation — Share your idea, size, and placement. One image is fine.
→ Book now - Design — We prepare a clear layout and offer options, including Japanese motif blends if you want.
- Schedule — Pick a date/time that fits your trip. We suggest late in your stay for easier aftercare.
- Tattoo Day — Final size check, stencil, careful lines and shading, clean wrap.
- Aftercare — Simple care sheet + quick check‑ins by message.
About Today’s Flash (If You Don’t Have a Specific Idea)
Our Today’s Flash is a set of ready‑to‑go designs you can pick on the day. It is not focused on game motifs, but if you arrive without a fixed idea, the flash rack is a fun way to get a clean piece right away.
→ Today’s Flash
Aftercare While Traveling (Onsen, Pools, Sun)
- Keep it clean as instructed; light moisturizer is fine.
- No soaking while healing: avoid onsen, pools, and long baths.
- Avoid heavy sun; cover the area outside.
- Go easy on workouts and backpack straps to reduce rubbing.
- Do not scratch; let flakes fall on their own.
- We’ll give you a clear care sheet at the studio.
FAQ
Is it okay to get a Japanese game tattoo in Japan?
Yes. We create original drawings that celebrate your favorite titles and read clearly on skin.
Can you mix game elements with Japanese motifs?
Absolutely. We can blend waves, sakura, brush frames, crests, or kanji accents so it feels “game + Japan” in one design.
How much time will it take?
Small icons often finish in one session. Medium pieces take longer for line and shading. We’ll give a plan at consult.
Do you take same‑day bookings or flash?
Same‑day may be possible depending on the day. If you don’t have a set idea, you can choose from Today’s Flash in the studio.
→ Check availability
Do you offer English support?
Yes. From messages to aftercare, we support you in English.
→ Contact
Explore More
- Tattoos (Gallery): See our line quality, color work, and healed pieces.
→ Browse the gallery - Anime Tattoo Osaka Guide: If you like anime‑style pieces, read this next.
→ Anime Tattoo Guide - Book Your Consultation: One image is enough to start.
→ Contact
Author uni
A tattoo enthusiast who has been tattooed by more than 30 artists. Working with tattoo artists and others at GOOD TIMES INK.