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Quick answer
For a tattoo shop in Johor Bahru that you can walk to from the CIQ, try Sunskin Studio or Second Sight in JB City Square. For larger realism, Japanese or cover-up projects, Tattoo Things in Taman Adda Heights is the most established option we found. Book on WhatsApp, pick a weekday, and leave time for the jam home.
Picking a tattoo shop in Johor Bahru usually starts with one question: how far is it from the checkpoint? Many JB clients come from Singapore for the day, so location matters as much as style. Some studios sit in a mall you can walk to after immigration. Others are in suburban shoplots in Mount Austin, Adda Heights or Gelang Patah, where you will need a Grab. Below are five studios we checked against at least two independent sources, plus honest notes on prices, the border and healing on the way home.
How we checked JB studios
Every studio here appears in its own channels and at least one independent source, such as Daily Vanity, Lemon8, inkppl, Waze or a Google Business page. We also looked for work posted in 2025 or 2026. Several older roundups list a tattoo shop in Johor Bahru that have since gone quiet or moved, so we left those out. In addition, two busy studios that market to Singaporeans, 33 Tattoo in Skudai and LC INK in Taman Pelangi, did not make the list. We found only their own website and social pages, with no independent source to back them up. No studio paid to appear. For the full method, see our editorial policy.
Where JB's tattoo studios are
City centre. JB City Square, on Jalan Wong Ah Fook, links to JB Sentral and the CIQ. As a result, it is the obvious pick for day-trippers without a car.
Mount Austin and Adda Heights. This north-eastern suburb has JB's densest group of shoplot studios. It is also the cafe and nightlife area that many Singaporean weekend visitors already know. However, only one studio here showed clear 2026 activity in our checks.
The west. Gelang Patah and Iskandar Puteri sit near the Tuas Second Link, so studios out here suit drivers coming from western Singapore.
5 verified tattoo shops in Johor Bahru
Tattoo Things
Tattoo Things opened in 2017 and says it has four senior artists. It also offers piercing and laser removal. Its FAQ puts small pieces at about RM200–RM400 and asks for a 30% non-refundable deposit. Large projects carry a design fee, and it lists payment as cash only. It opens daily from noon to about 7pm.
Sunskin Studio
Sunskin has worked in JB since 2006 and recently moved up from the mall floors into the office tower. So if you use an old address, you will end up on the wrong level. A Lemon8 reviewer paid RM150 for a small piece in January 2024, and saw the artist open sealed needles in front of her. It opens daily from 11am to 6pm.
Second Sight Tattoo Parlour
Second Sight shares a building with Sunskin, which makes it easy to compare the two in one trip. Its Instagram names Hwee Lo and Brenda as artists. Sources give different unit numbers, so confirm the exact unit by WhatsApp before you go. Listed hours are 11am to 6pm daily.
Lim Tattoo Shop
Lim Tattoo suits heavy black work and big sleeve plans. It keeps longer hours than the city studios, from 11am to 9pm. If you cross by the Tuas Second Link, it is far closer than anything in central JB. It takes enquiries by WhatsApp and WeChat.
QiiQii Tattoo Studio (Dawn Qii)
Dawn Qii is a female artist known for soft floral and fine line pieces. That said, her account now leads with florist work, and recent posts are mostly flowers. So DM her first to check she is still taking tattoo bookings and how far ahead she books.
Is a tattoo in JB cheaper than in Singapore?
Often, yes, but the gap is smaller than it was. The ringgit has strengthened since 2024. ShopBack, citing Bank Negara data, put SGD 1 at about RM3.25–RM3.35 in mid-2026, down from about RM3.60 in early 2024. In practice, a small piece in JB still costs less than most Singapore shop minimums. For example, the RM150 Sunskin piece above worked out to about S$43 for that reviewer, who said her cheapest Singapore quote was about S$100.
Even so, do not choose a tattoo shop in Johor Bahru on price alone. A cheaper session that needs a cover-up later costs far more. Size, detail, placement and artist seniority still set the quote, so confirm before booking. For context, see our Malaysia tattoo price guide and the sleeve tattoo price guide if you are planning a big multi-session piece.
Crossing the Causeway for a tattoo shop in Johor Bahru
Timing the border
Friday evenings, Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings bring the longest queues. The eve of a Singapore or Malaysian public holiday is often worse. So book a weekday or the first slot of the day if you can. Then check the live checkpoint cameras before you leave the studio.
Getting there today
Until the new rail link opens, most people take a Causeway bus to Woodlands and then clear the JB CIQ. ShopBack puts the bus at about S$2.20–S$3 one way. From the CIQ, City Square is a short walk. For Adda Heights, Taman Gaya or Gelang Patah, use Grab, which works with a Singapore account.
RTS Link status
The RTS Link between Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar is not open yet. In October 2026, its opening was pushed back to February 2027, according to its Wikipedia entry. Once it runs, the ride should take about five minutes, and you will clear both countries at your departure station. Since Bukit Chagar sits near the city centre, the City Square studios will gain the most.
Aftercare on the way back to Singapore
A long session followed by a two-hour jam is hard on fresh skin. So treat the trip home as part of your plan with any tattoo shop in Johor Bahru. Keep the wrap on, stay out of the sun in queues and avoid leaning the tattoo against bus seats. Also, buy or bring the balm your artist recommends, and ask for written aftercare notes plus a WhatsApp contact.
Next, agree the touch-up terms in writing before you pay. A free touch-up still means another crossing, so factor that in. Finally, if you notice spreading redness, heat, pus or fever, see a GP or polyclinic in Singapore rather than waiting for your next trip. Our tattoo aftercare guide and touch-up guide cover the rest.
Plan big projects such as sleeves as a series of weekday trips. Each session means a return crossing, so budget the time and transport as part of the real cost of the piece.
Frequently asked questions
Which tattoo shop in Johor Bahru is closest to the CIQ?
Sunskin Studio and Second Sight Tattoo Parlour are both in JB City Square, which links to the CIQ and JB Sentral. You can walk there after immigration without a Grab.
Is it cheaper to get a tattoo in JB than in Singapore?
Usually, though the stronger ringgit has narrowed the gap. One JB studio quotes small pieces at about RM200–RM400. Another charged a reviewer RM150, or about S$43, in 2024. Always confirm the price before booking.
Is the RTS Link from Woodlands to JB open?
Not yet. In October 2026, the opening slipped to February 2027. Until then, use the Causeway buses or other existing options.
Do JB tattoo studios take deposits?
Many do. Tattoo Things, for example, asks for a 30% non-refundable deposit and adds a design fee for large projects. Ask about deposits and cancellation rules when you book.
What should I do if my tattoo looks infected after I get home?
See a doctor in Singapore promptly and tell them where and when you got the tattoo. Signs to watch for include spreading redness, heat, pus and fever. Also message the studio, but do not delay treatment.
How old do you need to be for a tattoo in JB?
Studios in Malaysia tattoo clients aged 18 and above, so bring ID. Our guide on tattoo laws in Malaysia explains the wider rules.