Japanese Flower Tattoos: A Visual Guide

Japanese Flower Tattoos

With tremendous respect for the natural world and the circle of life, Japanese flower tattoos typically appear exotic with brightly saturated colors and detailed line work.

As one of the oldest and most popular styles of tattoos, Japanese tattoo designs are widely recognized and deeply symbolic.

For ink that really stands out both in appearance and meaning, create your tattoo design with a Japanese flower motif.

Japanese Flower Tattoo Meanings

Across the world, flowers are known to be multifaceted tattoos with all sorts of designs and symbolism attached.

Not only do they decorate and brighten up interiors and exteriors alike, but they are also known for their health-benefits.

These meanings are translated onto the skin with Japanese flower tattoos, bestowing beauty on the wearer but a variety of underlying meanings, too.

As a mindful nation, the Japanese culture especially embraces the life cycle of birth, end, and rebirth and the beauty within it that is represented by flowers.

Although many people believe that flowers are feminine tattoo motifs, Japanese flower tattoos are known for promoting manliness in their designs.

Main Themes in Japanese Flower Tattoos

Japanese tattoos are tremendously symbolic with every element of the embedded ink bearing its own meaning, including the tattoo colors.

For example, black is used for mystery, while yellow is for positivity, prosperity, and optimism.

White is the symbol for truth, purity, and soothing others, while green represents energy and life, and pink symbolizes femininity and good health.

With so many tattoo designs and meanings for everyone to relate to, it’s hard not to love the look and symbolism of Japanese flower tattoos.

Japanese Peony Tattoos

Also known in Japan as “botan” or the “King of Flowers”, peonies are so well regarded in the Eastern culture.

These florals are known for being masculine flowers, suggesting an “all or nothing” kind of attitude.

However, it is also the symbol for weddings in Japan, along with richness, pleasure, fruitfulness, and the success of life.

Peony tattoos in the Western world have another range of similar meanings, from good fortune to courage, honor, abundance, prosperity, beauty, and fragility.

These gorgeous flowers are also often given as a good omen for newlyweds, as a sign of prosperity and happiness.

With all things considered, peony tattoos are beautiful symbols of hope, wealth, and good luck that make for gorgeous imagery as Japanese tattoos.

Japanese Chrysanthemum Tattoos

Strongly associated with royalty, perfection, and honor in Japan, the chrysanthemum also depicts happiness, joy, and longevity.

The emperor’s throne in Japan is even referred to as the Chrysanthemum Throne, further driving home the regality behind these flowers.

In the Western world, the chrysanthemum is often given to mothers and/or friends, so this flower is a great choice for a matching tattoo with a close pal or mom.

On a different note, many people get chrysanthemum tattoos as a stunning memorial as they are at times associated with grief and loss.

Like most flower tattoos, the tattoo color changes the meaning behind them.

Red or pink chrysanthemum tattoos: Love and passion
Yellow chrysanthemum tattoos: Unrequited love
White chrysanthemum tattoos: Loyalty, truth
Turquoise/Green chrysanthemum tattoos: Ambition, vitality, youth

Japanese Lotus Tattoos

As an exceptional flower that emerges from murky, muddy conditions, the lotus tattoo symbolizes resilience, purity, inner peace, self-control, enlightenment, and spiritual awakening.

The lotus is mostly found tattooed as fully blossomed, potentially because they are quite frankly, beautiful to look at, but also because it symbolizes someone’s achievement of enlightenment.

Many tattoo fans choose the lotus flower tattoo to signify their journey as a statement that they have discovered a new path in life.

The different colors of the lotus tattoo also affect the meanings behind them.

White and pink lotus tattoo: Purity
Red, purple, and blue lotus tattoos: Enlightenment and/or rebirth, ascension
Green lotus tattoo: Self-improvement
Black lotus tattoo: Power, authority, or ephemerality

In a Japanese style, you will often find these paired with water designs and koi fish tattoo designs, as a symbol of determination, strength, and desire to succeed.

Japanese Flower Tattoo Sleeve

Japanese flowers are faultless options for a sleeve tattoo.

Irrespective of whether you opt for a cherry blossom tattoo only or decide on a diverse sleeve of scores of full blooms, a Japanese flower tattoo sleeve is an impeccable showstopper.

A sleeve tattoo in itself symbolizes power and patience, with your ability to handle twinges showcased in the artwork adorning your limb.

They also give you the freedom to choose multiple illustrations that you feel personal connections to, rather than narrowing your sights to just one.

The best part of a sleeve tattoo is the lack of boundaries when it comes to creativity and uniqueness.

You can make your sleeve 100% your own, combining all of your favorite elements of Japanese flower tattoos into one large, intertwining, sensational piece.

Japanese Dragon and Flower Tattoos

Plenty of people prefer to have the florals as solo pieces of art but in many cases, blossoms don’t appear alone.

One of the most commonly inked symbols alongside Japanese flowers is the dragon.

Bringing a sense of courage to your tattoo, a dragon tattoo symbolizes strength, wisdom, and wealth.

Despite being fierce, they are considered guardians that use their strength and power for good as generous creatures.

People often get a Japanese dragon tattoo alongside a flower to show both their power and vulnerability.

The two contrasting tattoo motifs blend into a beautiful tattoo with significant meaning.

Just as the tattoo color alters the meaning of flowers, so too does the hue of the dragon tattoo.

If you wish to depict compassion and forgiveness, choose a blue tint, or for relations to nature and life, opt for a green complexion.

To make sure you achieve your intended meaning, it is best to look into the significance of each tattoo color before getting your permanent ink.

Sakura Tattoos

More commonly known as a cherry blossom, the Sakura is popular across the entire world for both its beautiful appearance and the things they represent.

As the national flower of Japan, they are incredibly popular in Japanese tattoo designs.

One of the most obvious connections is to springtime and the positive feelings associated with spring blossoms, new beginnings, rebirth, and renewal.

As a flower that only blossoms for two weeks of the year, these delicate blooms translate to feelings of impermanence and the fragile, fleeting nature of life.

The Sakura serves as a reminder that life is short. Always live life to the fullest.

On a related note, the cherry is sometimes meant to represent the emptiness of human existence.

However, sakura tattoos are most commonly known for more optimistic metaphors and reminders that nothing lasts forever, whether positive or inequitable – if it’s tough right now, it’ll get better and if it’s great, enjoy it while it lasts.

In Samurai traditions, fallen cherry blossoms were used to represent fallen Samurai, and as such, some choose to get a few fallen cherry blossom tattoos as memorials to lost loved ones.

Small Japanese Flower Tattoos

Although medium to large size tattoos are usually chosen for Japanese flowers, you can make these look fabulous even as a daintier piece.

Often found on the hand, limb, neck, or foot, small Japanese flowers are perfect choices for someone that prefers to keep their artwork more compact or as a little addition to a larger piece.

Black & Grey Japanese Flower Tattoos

Although classic Japanese tattoos typically showcase lots of contrasting colors, you can have an equally gorgeous and vibrant tattoo from shades of black and grey – not all Japanese tattoos need to be colorful.

Extensive shading and detail create a stark contrast that can make a black and grey Japanese flower just as eye-catching as a brightly colored blossom.

One thing to note with all black and grey imagery here is that they often incorporate dark backgrounds and elements.

Body Placement

Japanese tattoos are known for requiring a lot of space for these over-the-top designs to look their best.

They include extensive detail with plenty of loops, scallops, and linework that help your ink come to life by using a bigger template.

This is why you most often see this type of tattoo sprawling across limbs or even the entire back, to ensure they come out crisp and clear.

With that said, flowers come in all shapes and sizes, and as such, Japanese flower tattoos can be scaled down to the tiniest of images that can even fit on your hand.

No matter where you choose to get inked, your Japanese flower is guaranteed to look phenomenal.

Japanese Flower Hand Tattoos

When wonderfully placed on the hand, Japanese flower tattoos are outstanding pieces that you can confidently display at all times.

The back of the hand is an ideal spot for a flower tattoo, providing a perfect canvas for circular blooms while yielding constant reminders of the significance behind your tattoo.

Japanese Flower Neck Tattoos

Neck tattoos are bold statements that demand attention.

They show that you’re willing to take risks, adding a level of adventure and daring confidence to your Japanese flowers.

For anyone unafraid of twinge or having a tattoo almost always at the display, the neck is a great place to flaunt your Japanese floral ink.

Back Tattoos

As the optimal canvas for a massive Japanese piece, place your ink on your back.

You could have a more delicate feel with cherry blossoms making their way down your back or cover every inch of skin with copious interlocked petals and pigments.

Whether you include several varieties of florals, a bunch of the same flower, or a singular blossom, a Japanese floral tattoo on your back will be an absolute masterpiece.

Japanese Flower Shoulder Tattoos

The shoulder is one of the most desirable placements for Japanese flowers, big and small alike.

A shoulder tattoo is flexible in terms of placement, with the possibility of growing it up or down, around to the chest or back, or even as a band wrapped around the upper limb.

As a statement piece on its own or as part of a sleeve, the shoulder is well-suited for larger Japanese flowers with plenty of detail.

For a fairly painless spot that can be easily covered with a long sleeve, get your shoulder inked.

Conclusion

Whether you get a stand-alone tattoo piece or opt for a multitude of blossoms, or even implement a dragon or koi fish, your creative options are endless to make it your own.

Floral Japanese tattoos make for spectacular body art with their bright, bold, beautiful images.

The combination of freedom in color choices along with several elements in every design makes these tattoos as unique as they are breathtaking.

Regardless of body placement, color, or size, Japanese flower tattoos are incredibly meaningful, magnificent works of art you can be proud to exhibit.

Related posts: