If you want pain inflicted on you, if you like the feeling of needles poking at you, welcome to the professional inflictors of pain at State of Grace Tattoo. I waited till my tattoo was done to write this review and 4 sessions later, here goes:I had 4 sessions with Fuji for a Koi tattoo with cherry blossoms and lotus. 4 sessions later and 4 round trip flights from Burbank to San Jose I am 200% happy with my completed koi and art. Fuji doesn't mess around. I guess I could have found a Japan style tattoo artist in LA, but after following State of Grace, Sef, Fuji and others on social media (IG), I figured out what I wanted and took the leap! I actually stop into the shop last year while in San Francisco and coming down to the Winchester Mystery House. I saw the shop, how clean it was and how fun and electrifying the shop was and gave it a thought then went back home to LA.I've become fond of San Jose. I love it and the airport is very easy to fly in and out to. State of Grace is about 10 minutes from the airport as well, $6-9 one-way on Uber/Lyft. Fuji my tattoo artist is a soft spoken Japanese dude and specializes in Japan style tattoos and art. Look him up on IG: fuji_stateofgrace It took him 4 sessions to finish but it was well worth it. He doesn't say much and goes an hour before he takes a short 5 min break and then resumes. Always professional and kind! I was so happy with the results. He's probably the least talkative of all the tattoo artists at State of Grace. I'm sure he'd talk to you more if you spoke Japanese. :)My friend got her tattoos with Sef. sef_kavafornia (IG). That dude is the BEST with Polynesian/Island tattoos. He's probably the total opposite of Fuji too. Very fun and talkative and does an amazing job at his style of tattoos. I'm hoping to one day golf with that guy as well! Heard he has a mean slice! :)Cash only. You need to make an appointment for a consultation, drop a $100 deposit with the artist and set up your schedule. Don't be intimidated. The guys and gals at State of Grace are awesome and fun! The shop is also located in Japantown SJ. Tons of stuff to eat around there and also 10 mins from Santana Row and the airport. I believe they do eye brow tattoos as well with the lady of the house, the co-owner of the shop IG: knivesandneedlesIf I ever decide to get another tattoo, I'll think of State of Grace, Fuji and Sef first. Don't forget to check out the other artists as each of them have their own unique styles. Professional, fun, and made my pains go away after my tattoo was completed! Read Less

For awhile I have pondered the idea of covering a tattoo I did 20 years ago. State of grace was recommended to me by a friend, so I decide to stop there to see the work of their tattoo artist. I was immediately impressed by the work of Colin. So I decided to schedule a consultation with him and after that I scheduled my appointment (unfortunately I had to wait 2 months because his schedule is packed, but it was well worth the wait!).Colin is a true artist and the final result is amazing. Also I did 2 small tattoos in the past and it was a pretty painful experience, this one was not and he worked on my shoulder and back for almost 3 hours! it healed in less than a week and I couldn't be happier :) Now I'm already thinking about the next tattoo, haven't made up my mind yet on what I want, but I know for sure it will be done by Colin! Read Less

Been seeing Tyler for a couple years now and cannot say enough about how talented he is. Saw him originally for 1 tattoo and ended up getting a full sleeve. Super cool and friendly guy and now happy to call him a friend. Read Less

Horrible experience. I have multiple tattoos already from different shops. This was by far the worst. I was told I would be charged $200 dollars and after the appointment I was charged $300. I had an appointment for 2 hours and when I arrived, the artist wasn't ready. And took an hour to prep everything during the time I was suppose to get tattooed. Super unprofessional Read Less

Reputation deserved!!! I'm a sensitive guy- I can feel a mouse fart in my back yard- so tattoos are a real challenge for me. In fact, tattoos and I exist in a paradoxical relationship, based on the fact that I love the sexy and beautifil art, but I absolutely hate needles. This dilemma has left my larger tattoo unfinished for many years (plus the fact that my home grown artist who last worked on it gave me an inflection). I've been searching for the courage to get around the "cash-money" excuse and finally put my big boy pants on and do some research as to where would be best to have someone finish my detailed samurai piece. After about 2 weeks of homework, my best indications led me to Fuji. Turns out all that college actually worked in teaching me how to conduct meaningful research!!! The tat is a hit and these folks are true professionals, so much so that I will be returning to face my phobias again in the name of stunning, sexy body art!!! Bravo! Read Less

My artist Sef is here. I have been going to him for a number of years now. His style and flow are second to none. I still got blank skin space and he definitely will be filling it out. I like that the shop is in Historic Japantown. They do traditional Japanese style, Polynesian style and Traditional American Style.Don't sleep on this shop. Find them on IG and check their work. You will not be disappointed. Read Less

Very nice tattoo studio well put together large space with plenty of artwork hanging giving you a glimpse of the caliber of the artists that work there. They keep the place extremely clean an as for someone who's been in a few tattoo studios it's defiantly at the top Read Less

I have been wanting to get a sibling tattoo with my brother for years. At first we never found ourselves in the same place at the same time or when we were I was too nervous to just do a walk in appointment. I was waiting for a stellar referral.That's where Colin comes in. A friend at work has been working on a sleeve and has shown off the incredible work of his artist. After the third tat I told him he had to share who his guy was so I could set up an appointment. He gave me Colin's info.Colin was super nice and very easy to work with. I was getting a very small number written in family members hand writing so I needed his help putting the numbers together cohesively. He didn't seem concerned -- this is his job after all.So my appointment rolls around and I walk into he parlor a total tattoo virgin. I'm going to admit I was really intimidated and a bit scared. I don't think i have mentioned how absolutely petrified of needles I am... but it's a serious fear. Colin greeted me with a warm smile and jumped right in with a bunch of different mock ups of my tattoo to look at. He was so patient and made sure I was confident before starting. My tattoo took him all of 2min (my brother timed it) but even still my nervous habit of blubbering nonsense came gushing out of me.Not once did Colin make me feel dumb for being scared. In the end I was left with a perfect piece. Colin made me feel like my tiny two minute tattoo was just as important and worth his time as any big beautiful masterpiece.I'm grateful to have been referred to such a great human and stellar shop. If you are looking at getting a tattoo somewhere clean full of incredible artists, come here and ask for Colin. Read Less

Best place to get your tattoos done . Molly is a wizard when it comes to your micro blading needs . Colin's been my main tattoo artist for years and he never disappoints . His skills is out of this world . Everyone in this shop is friendly and are very skilled. I highly recommend them . Read Less

Amazing experience , everyone that works there is so welcoming and caring. I've been tattooed in shops all over California and Tyler was such a genuine guy with great attention to detail and my personal comfort. I couldn't have ask for a better experience or tattoo. Thank you to Tyler and the whole State of Grace family for everything. Read Less

A tattoo studio of the highest order. The quality of artists in the shop is difficult to describe. Exquisite artwork is churned out here.I sat for about three hours with a guest artist, Eric Jones of Costa Mesa. He, like the great artists that work at this shop are experts. Eric turned out a tattoo I could not even conceptualize. With a very brief consultation, Eric Jones, in my opinion, is a master at his craft. I just met the guy. And he just whipped out the perfect tattoo I didn't even know I wanted when I walked in. The upstairs space is very open, bright, and clean. The music was awesome. Most importantly. I'm suffering from a mental disability. It makes me very socially awkward. I got the feeling I was making everybody in the shop pretty uncomfortable. I can't stop talking sometimes. It's terrible. But the shop still took care of me. Perfectly. If you are lucky enough to get an appointment here, you will get some great art and be taken care of by a classy, professional shop. First class all the way. Eric Jones told me he's going to do some routine guest spots up here in the Bay and at State of Grace. If you want a traditional tattoo work, he's as good as they get. And you can get an appontment with him in the future. Also. I just ran into renowned comedic artist David Cross out front. Him and his two kids (I think) just got inked at State of Grace. And it turns out, Mr Cross and I share a birthday. He's a darned Aries Dragon just like me. I framed up a shot for them as they took a selfie. I always appreciated me Cross' work. He's hilarious. Then I looked him up. Freaking sameBirthday. (Heath ledger, Maya Angelou, Muddy Waters....) and David Cross. And me. Small freaking world. Mr Cross, I'd love to catch a set when you're in SJ!!! Read Less

I had a crappy experience with Tyler the guy who does walk ins. He made weird comments about women and instantly/repeatedly called me "sweetheart" and "honey". My friend also said he thought it was weird. As well as my sister. I got a weird vibe when i saw that most of his templates/flash tattoos were pictures of boobs and ass but i tried to let it go but it just got worse from there. His ability to tattoo is good and dude has clean lines, but he gave me no aftercare instructions on top of all the creep vibes. the person checking us in also only addressed my guy friend and disregarded my sister and myself. bad vibes. i really wish i got another artist bc all the other artists do such amazing, dedicated work from the heart and had good energy. the overall shop seems great and so built on community would give state of grace 5 stars but the two people that we mainly interacted with treated us shitty. almost ruined the experience. Read Less

I lived two blocks away from State of Grace, but when I wanted a tattoo, I made the mistake of going elsewhere instead because I forgot there was a tattoo parlor close by. The place I went to could care less about your wants and needs and just sloppily tatted something on my arm. Needless to say it was terrible.For a year I lived with that terrible tattoo. It was a meaningful one that I meant to remember my dad by but it was so ugly that I spent most of my time hiding it. When I think of my dad, one of the first things that comes up to my mind are fish because he had a great love for them. I knew that I wanted a koi fish tattoo to remember him by but it would also be a coverup of the crappy tat.I decided to check state of grace out since it was so close by. So I scoped out each artists' IG page and read Yelp reviews of the parlor before I made my decision on Colin Baker. I really liked his work and his kois were beautifully done. I reached out to Colin via email and sent him a pic of my tattoo. He did warn me that he is not known for cover ups but he said he can see what he can do. After our email exchanges, he wasted no time and drafted me a drawing shortly after. We met for three consultations before he could figure out how to make the fish fit on my arm in the best way while making sure we cover up the tattoo and not take away from the colors of the koi. I really liked that he took his time and did not rush things. Colin truly wants to make sure all his clients are happy and get exactly what they want. We had some trouble finding the best way to make the koi and the coverup work but with his patience and brain, he found a solution I was very happy with. Colin is great to work with, he checks in regularly to make sure you're okay during your session. His lines are so clean and his thought process is so amazing. His thought process on making the black coverup blend in with that water splashes around the koi couldn't be more perfect. You can't go wrong with getting a tattoo from him! I literally find  myself staring at my tattoo from time to time and wanting to show it off even though it's not complete yet! I'm super happy with the results and I'm so glad I decided to come here for my tattoo! I still have one more session but I'm already stoked for it because I can't wait to see the final reveal! Read Less

State of Grace does amazing tattoos! Their artists are friendly, professional and very personable. Everyone I met was easygoing and welcoming! I got a poly tat from Sef and I couldn't be any happier. He did a leg piece that represented my 2 boys! I would recommend this place to anyone who is looking to get a tat! Read Less

I would recommend this place for tats and perm makeup.  Molly does an amazing job on microblading and it seems like they're always busy. I got my tat done there and so did my husband.  They charge by the hour and they don't drag the time to make more money. Read Less

Tyler at state of grace has me in a state of bliss. He's amazing. True artist. Clean work and a light hand. Best tattoo artist, best shop. It's a no brainer. Get your butt to this shop and see Tyler. They also have other artists with different style specialities to fit ANYONES TATTOO NEEDS. I can't wait to get tattooed by Tyler again!! Read Less

Ok let me just start off by saying that Molly has terrific customer service from the beginning of the inquiry all the way to the procedure date. Molly did a tattoo removal on my eyebrows because a makeup artist in Sacramento really botched my eyebrows Molly used glycholic acid to remove the ink. She explained what she was going to do with my brows and she took her time applying the acid. It didn't hurt at all. Afterwards she gave me the post instructions and carefully went over each one. The procedure was really quick. The bathroom was clean. The shop had very good lighting! Read Less

I was debating on getting my eyebrows Micrbladed, And I went and got them done recently  by Molly,she did an awesome job, They look very natural and cant even tell they had work done She is very professional  and super nice I strongly recommend her she is the best I am very Happy with mine... so if your thinking about getting your eyebrows Micrbladed  she is definitely the person to go too... Read Less

Had the absolute pleasure working with Tyler as my artist. I gave him a clear concept of a Jurassic Park gypsy with other Jurassic themes and placement. Got back to me really fast and just has a super chill surfer dude like attitude with the whole process. Hella fast guy too! He did this piece in 3 hours in my outer forearm!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! Really takes care of you especially the after care part including tips and advice! Read Less

My experience with State of Grace was unprofessional and unacceptable. Tyler cancelled on me twice, once without even notifying me. Then, on the 3rd try, he told me he would have 2 sketches ready so I could pick one. The day of my tattoo, I called to double check that everything was ready to go. The guy who picked up the phone said that he did not see an appointment on the calendar and had to call Tyler. When I arrived, Tyler did not have 2 sketches ready, and the one that he had was shoddy. He talked a lot about making the design "his", but when he showed me his mock up, it was basically a tracing of a photo I had given him with minimal touch ups. As I tried to explain the changes I'd like made, he was impatient and acted annoyed, calling me "buddy" in a condescending tone.Tattoos are meaningful. They are artworks. They are permanent. I did not get a sense of any of this from Tyler nor the staff who answered the phone at State of Grace. I cannot speak for the other tattoo artists, but I did not feel confident in getting my tattoo done here, so I left. Overall, I'd say this place is more a State of DISgrace. Read Less

They were super nice and they did a great job! I got a tattoo on the inside of my upper arm about a year ago and it was so painful but with this one it was a total breeze I mean the location I chose was painful but they were very easy and gentle with me Read Less

I contacted Colin Baker after following his instagram account for quite some time. He is a dedicated, talented, outstanding tattoo artist, an absolute gentleman, and incredibly patient with his clients. I wanted a traditional Japanese piece done on my upper thigh with very specific elements. I contacted him at the end of May this year and secured an appointment for mid-August. Since I was stationed on the east coast, I could not take the time off to fly to the State of Grace for a consultation. Instead, I emailed him pictures of my leg, gave him measurements of the tattoo-able area, and attached all the references I found pertinent to the tattoo. The great thing about Colin is that he was very prompt with responding to emails. I've worked with tattoo artists who would not get back to me until 1-2 weeks later due to the sheer volume of emails they get from their clients and requests. But Colin has come through every time regardless of how busy he was, which serves to show he truly cares about his clients. Fast forward to mid-August, I show up for the appointment. I was completely blown away by his work. He produced something that was everything I ever dreamed of. I wanted a spin off of the Tammeijiro print by Kuniyoshi (but replace Tammeijiro with the likes of Tomoe Gozen a badass female warrior). Within five minutes of me strolling into the shop, he was slapping the stencil on my thigh and getting right to work. I was hellbent on getting the tattoo completed in one session because being in the military, I have to sell my soul to get time off. Colin was very optimistic in being able to finish the warrior in one sitting and set aside 7 hours to get this done (assuming I didn't tap out first). He also kept me updated on how my skin was handling the ink being pounded into my flesh, since a piece this large had the potential to irritate my skin to the point where he would have to stop and continue at another time. FORTUNATELY, my skin behaved itself, and I sat like Plymouth rock with the occasional grunts and mild vulgarities. 7 hours of pain later, I had a beautiful, well-earned tattoo on my upper thigh. The color was vibrant and solid. The outline was crisp and dynamic. Colin pulled many tricks in his book to make this tattoo pop. I cannot thank Colin enough for an amazing tattoo. There are still two more elements to add before the tattoo is complete. I look forward to coming back later in November to have it completed.For those looking for a stellar Japanese tattoo, Colin will most certainly deliver. He's got a pretty extensive waitlist, so be prepared to plan for a trip months in advance. Read Less

I chose State of Grace for my first tattoo and it was a great experience!  Specifically, I chose Tyler.I actually came in a week before my actual tattoo appointment to talk with Tyler.  He did an incredible job taking my idea which was communicated in one sentence and making the mockup and resulting tattoo look incredible.  He was also great at calming any underlying nerves for a first-timer like me and describing in detail how it would go.Once I actually showed up for my appointment, I was in and out in about 2.5 hrs.  Since I've nothing to gauge against pricing wise I don't really know what to say other than I felt what I paid was fair given the resulting quality of the work.Would highly recommend State of Grace and especially Tyler for any tattoo work, he is an artist for sure! Read Less

One of my favorite tattoo joints. I started on a back piece here when Jill "Horiyuki" Bonny was still on staff. All of the artists here produce amazing work, and they never come across as snobby or douchey (unlike some tattoo shops I've been to). If you are looking to get some work done, I can't recommend State of Grace enough.Read Less

I have been blessed being in the skilled hands of Molly who does eyebrow embroidery (micro blading). With her incredible talent, meticulous skill and steady hand, she transformed my old faded eyebrow tattoo coloring (done in OR) into intricate beautiful hair strokes that look real and absolutely beautiful. I have never seen anything like it. I am very grateful. The shop is beautiful and spic'n'span clean. They are very professional while creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. the artists there are the cream of the crop. follow them on Instagram (stateofgracetattoo) and see for yourself. incredible art! Read Less

Great place for a Japanese style tattoo, probably best in bay area that I've found. I'm in progress of getting my tattoo done by Horifuji. First, Horifuji is a great artist, super chill and nice. He doesn't speak fluent English but I had no trouble communicating what I want. 5 stars for him. I would also give 5 stars to their staff. Very welcoming and kind. I had to move my appointment (which I know I'm causing an inconvenience) the girl I spoke with was very understanding. I'm excited to get my tattoo completed and have already recommended this place to others! Read Less

Very professional and skilled artists. Taki did my koi fish with a lotus. He took my idea and made it better than I ever could have imagined! My son got a tat from Tyler at the same time. We both couldn't be happier! Read Less

This shop couldn't be more wonderful. The environment is clean, the artists are downright incredible and everyone is insanely friendly. I've never met tattooers with so little ego--especially ones that actually have the right to be super arrogant since their work is so amazing. Tyler Harrington (guest artist) worked on me, and I got an amazing tattoo out of it. And as for the regular State of Grace artists, every tattoo that came out of the shop while I was there was one of the best tattoos I've ever seen. I can't recommend State of Grace enough! Read Less

I love state of grace. Its very clean and organized. The artists are very friendly, polite, and professional. I go to Colin. He does a great job and always creates a unique piece to fit the imagination.Great job guys. Keep up the great work! Read Less

1st time at this location due to my  Tattoo artist Sef  working here now. This place is located in Japan town part of  San Jose and it a awesome clean tattoo shop. If you're looking for the best Polynesian Artist, then look no further because Sef is such a highly amazing artist. He is so talented and his works just speaks for itself.  I have had a chest and arm sleeve done by him and it's by far my favorite art work on my body.. you can check all his work on IG He also has an amazing skill to just draw the art flow on your body and doesn't need to use a trace paper too like most artist use.  Of course if you don't like the work he drew on you before he tattoos it on you, you can say something but it's always on point and no need for that..Overall this is a Amazing shop looks like they have a staff of highly great artist that all specialize in different types of work . I will be coming back soon to finish more work Read Less

This is an old tattoo, but I came in here for my first tattoo 2-3 years ago, and my tattoo artist was amazing! I had sent him a photo of what I wanted, he made a design that I, actually, didn't like very much. So he excused himself to touch it up and came back with this design, which I totally love. It's not much, in comparison to some of the other tattoos uploaded onto here, but I absolutely love it to this day. It's been awhile, so I can't entirely remember who my artist is, but I've heard he's not there anymore :/ Read Less

Taki did my tattoo. He took a simple idea from me and created a fantastic piece art that I couldn't even have imagined. I thoroughly researched State of Grace before going there. They all do fantastic work from what I have seen. It was a pleasure and honor to have Taki create that piece of art for me. Read Less

I had 2 tattoo on my chest I needed covered up. So I contacted Blake he told me to come in. We met he drew up a cover and went at it. I was very happy with the cover up and the ideas we shared. I also had him do a pic of my daughters x Ray who was diagnosed with ollier.. I love it all this place is super cool and everybody is really calm and nice. I have a few more sessions with him on other ideas. I will go no where else. Thanks guys Read Less

Colin Baker is the best!! I had been looking for someone to do a Japanese traditional leg sleeve for me for quite some time. I came across Colin's Instagram and immediately set up a consultation with him.During our consultation he knew EXACTLY what to do. I told him the general idea I had, what I want in my piece and what I don't want. He NAILED it! I felt so comfortable after our consultation, you could tell immediately that he is very knowledgeable. He is also a super nice guy! When I scheduled my appt, he was booked out pretty far which was a bummer but a totally good sign since his time is in high demand! He reassured me that he would call me if he had any cancellations and could get me in earlier. Fortunately, he called me before my original scheduled appt and told me he did have a cancellation so I got in earlier than expected!When I came to our first appt, the piece that he had drawn out absolutely blew me away! It was everything I had hoped it would be and more. I couldn't wait! He is very time efficient which makes a huge difference when you are paying hourly. He got a decent amount of work done in our two hour session, I was very impressed! I have gone to a lot of different artists before he is definitely the best in this regard (and most others)!I look forward to every session I have with Colin and seeing more progress on my piece. I fall more and more in love with it every time! Some shops have an intimidating and almost unfriendly feel but state of grace is very welcoming and everyone there is extremely nice! I recommend this shop to all my family, friends and clientele and I'm comfortable knowing that they will have a similar experience. Read Less

This place is the real deal.  From the time I started to appreciate the art of tattooing, State of Grace has been on my map.  While I haven't gotten a tattoo from any of the artist, I know I will one day.   Being a fan of all of the artist, I knew I had to visit when in San Jose. It didn't disappoint. I had purchased a few items from the online store, but nothing beats going in. I was able to see a few of the artists in progress and check out all of the portfolios. Words will not describe my excitement and appreciation when Horitomo himself signed my Mon Mon cat book. I was so happy with the purchase and he took the time, after a client to sign it.  I am so gracious for that and "thank you" will never be enough.  My week was made. The Misses at the front was so accommodating, and everyone inside was so friendly.  Forever will I have the book and memory. I can't wait until I get the opportunity for a tattoo from one of the greats. Please continue to keep up the great work and know you are making memories that last a life time. Read Less

Currently in the works of a leg piece done by Colin Baker. Badass tattoo artist. 3 sessions in, got a few more to go! So far we've done the outline and the details of the snakes, and a bit of shading. I've got three more sessions booked with him. Next up, color!I like the way the shop is laid out. First of all, it is on the second floor. As soon as you go through the door you will be faced with a staircase. The floor is spacious for each station, and very much so clean. The bathrooms are well maintained.People always talk about the ridiculous waitlist for this shop. In my opinion, the wait is worth it!!! The entire staff is super talented, check out each of their IGs.I had a consultation with Colin in January 2016. From there, I was able to schedule a few sessions with him. My first session was in mid-April 2016.. I definitely remember it too.. 3 hours of outlining! Tried sitting through the first session to get the outlining done but man, my body isn't conditioned for that sort of infliction.Colin is very proactive with email communication and scheduling his appointments. Check out his IG for his work.. he's very versatile! Collaborating with him is not difficult at all. He is open to anything!I appreciated that most of my leg piece was done free-handed - it fits the body well that way. He even did the details of the snakes free-handed... I still stare at my leg from time to time - so mesmerizing.Each time I've come in for a session, the staff has been more than welcoming. Colin always makes sure that I'm not dying in the chair.Meter parking since it is in japantown. There is a parking lot that does all day parking for just two doll hairs.. ($2). Might as well opt for that if you're doing a long session at state of grace Read Less

Before I go into it - I was tattooed by Colin Baker. Dude is OG. I have nothing but great things to say about State of Grace - clean shop, really nice staff and artists, amazing talent, fair prices + experience. Colin was my guy - had to wait a long time for him, but, after seeing his work, it was clear to me that it was worth the wait. Amazingly talented individual. He can do better line work than anyone I've seen or been tattooed by - and he even made my project happen that other shops (well acclaimed places I should add) clearly stated they could not do. Overall, my sleeve process took 1.5 years to complete - but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. If you're reading this, thanks Colin!!! Read Less

I had my first session for my highly anticipated back piece, and two sleeves with Horitomo the other day and it was definitely worth the wait. Horitomo and all the other staff are very friendly and make you feel at home. Molly handles all the steps involved with getting a tattoo from Horitomo, including the waiting list, consultation appointment, deposit, viewing your tattoo drawing, and scheduling your tattoo appointments. She has been very helpful and informative at all the steps along the way. I look forward to continuing this journey with Horitomo, a true master, and I highly recommend State of Grace, a world class tattoo shop. Read Less

Got my tattoo done by Horifuji, and I love it! Being born in Japan, I've always wanted a Japanese tattoo by a Japanese artist. Lucky for me, State of Grace just brought in Horifuji and I managed to get an appointment in.To start from the beginning, I've decided to stop by State of Grace to get a feel for the place before committing to anything. I met Taki and his wife (I believe her name was Molly) and I got a great vibe from not only them two, but the entire place. I originally wanted to schedule an appointment with Taki, but being as busy as he is, Molly suggested I go with Horifuji who happened to be flying in from Japan. After looking at his Instagram, I went ahead and scheduled a consultation, and got my tattoo done shortly after. Horifuji did an amazing job and I plan on coming back for my next piece. If you're looking to get a Japanese artwork tatted, State of Grace is the place to go! Read Less

I love Colin. He coordinated with me initially via email since I live out of the area. We exchanged ideas & he drew up the most beautiful koi side piece. He was very humble & let me know in advance he would make changes if I'd like to....it was so perfect I didn't change a thing-which is amazing because I'm a control freak. Lol. Very brilliant & professional dude, can't go wrong with Colin! Read Less

I have been tattooed by Blake and he was very warm and friendly during all of my sessions. He makes getting tattooed a lot less uncomfortable. I am very pleased with my finished piece of artwork by Blake and am looking forward to my next tattoo by him. State of Grace is one of the best tattoo shops I have ever been tattooed in. I respect all the artists and think they are amazing at their craft. It is a place where ideas and creativity come to life. When you're serious about adorning your body with images you really want the best artist, this is the place that you come to. I have been treated professionally every time I've been there, even for simple consultations or to drop off deposits every staff member has treated me graciously.I will definitely be back to pet their frenchies!!Thank you Taki and Molly for maintaining such an incredible place In San Jose to get beautiful artwork done. Read Less

This review is for MOLLY...if I could give her no stars or even negative stars, I would! Molly is Taki's wife, Taki is the owner. I had an appointment with Horitomo on Wednesday, October 14th to do my Crane tattoo sleeve. I left a message with a guy a month ago that I wanted to see my drawing that Horitomo drew up for me and he said he would give the message to Horitomo and to Molly. Well no one ever called me back. So I called back a couple days ago and I spoke with a woman who answered the phone. Told her the deal that no one called me back and she said, "I'm Molly." I said, "Oh, well no one called me back so I was getting concerned and that's why I'm calling now." She thought I was getting a Mon Mon Cat. I told her Horitomo agreed to do my Crane tattoo. Anyways, she said the drawing is ready, you can come by anytime to see it. I told her I would come by tomorrow to take a look. And then she mentioned absolutely no changes are to be made. So I asked her, "What if I don't like it?" Molly said, "You forfeit your deposit." Mind you, I paid a $300 deposit because Horitomo is $250 an hour! I was speechless because if I'm paying a lot of money, I better be happy with that drawing the first time around! So Molly explained to me that I need to trust my artist. She told me exactly that if Horitomo is doing a crane tattoo for me that I should expect, "the best crane tattoo in the world" because he worked months and months on drawing this tattoo. I said, "Fair enough, I'm sure I will like it, I just wanted to make sure the position of the crane is how I wanted it. I'll be in tomorrow morning to see it." I thought that was going to be the end of the conversation. Apparently not! I know who Molly is in relation to the owner. Taki does my BF's tattoo and that's how I was recommended. So keep in mind, during my convo with her, I was being super nice. Molly started copping a major attitude with me. Why? Because I asked that simple question, "What happens if I don't like it?" She lectured me on why I even chose him to be my artist. She kept saying I need to trust my artist. I kept trying to cut it off by saying it's okay, I'll look at it tomorrow. But she kept on digging. So I finally asked her nicely, "Is there a problem? I asked you a simple question and it seems like you're arguing with me?" She said, "You're asking what if you don't like it and you haven't even seen it yet?!" LOL Wow! I said, "What's wrong with asking a simple question? It doesn't mean I'm not gonna like it." It's a "What if" question! What if I win the lotto?! Doesn't mean it will happen! Anyways, we ended the conversation by me telling her it's fine and that I will be in the next morning.This broad called me back a few minutes later and told me to come by in the morning to pick up my deposit and that they ask that I never come back to their shop ever again. Un freaking believable! I was upset and disappointed because I was excited to get my tattoo next week. This girl took it to another level and cancelled my appointment because I asked a simple question. I don't know if she was PMS'n and took that shit out on me but I was livid! I didn't argue with her, I said okay because what can I do? She already made up her mind. I came in the next day. I stood at the counter and she was walking in with Taki and their dogs. She even smiled at me. Taki asked me if there was something he can help me with. I said I'm here to pick up my deposit. Molly came out with this nasty look on her face. Her demeanor changed and she was rude to me. She gave me my deposit back. I told her I wanted to put it towards my BF's that Taki is going to do in November and she said, "No, Taki's not doing his tattoo, he doesn't know Jonathan." So I asked Taki if I can do that and after mentioning that I know his client he agreed. Molly is a hater!!! So I told her like it is...we exchanged some words in the shop. I told her that she needs to learn some customer service and that she needs some people skills because the way she treated me was so unnecessary. She told me I changed my tattoo from a Mon Mon cat to a crane. I never wanted a Mon Mon cat!! She said I put down my artist! I never said anything bad about Horitomo! Why are you lying? How do you run a shop like that? You don't treat anyone like that. Terrible customer service!! I'm an artist too and if someone pays me to do something for them I want to make sure they are 100% satisfied because that's my work I put into. Molly treated me horribly! I didn't cuss at her, I never used profanity. But I gave her a piece of my mind. I shouldn't have even put my deposit on my BF's tattoo but I figured I'd pay for it for him. But that was ridiculous! Molly not only wasted my time but she wasted Horitomo's time for drawing up my tattoo for nothing. Horitomo is an awesome artist. I WAITED OVER A YEAR FOR MY TATTOO APPOINTMENT!!!!!! YOU FREAKING SUCK MOLLY!!!!!!! One bad review can haunt you forever!!! Read Less

Best place to get a traditional Japanese tattoo. My wife and I walked in to see about getting a tattoo and "En Horizaru" just happened to fly in an hour prior to us from Japan. Within the hour En was ready and we got some amazing work done. Highly recommend State of Grace and if En is there he is highly recommended as well. Looking forward to getting another Japanese style dragon. Read Less

I called after discovering this shop on Instagram. I was a little surprised, but also not that surprised that a consultation appointment ended up getting scheduled out about a month in advance. I'm assuming it was also due to my preference to meet after work.When I met Blake, my idea for the tattoo had completely changed. Basically I went from wanting a rabbit in the moon tattoo to just Japanese calligraphy of a proverb. I printed out the saying that I wanted off the Internet but explained I wanted it to have that brush calligraphy look. Blake confirmed it wouldn't be a problem since they have someone at the shop who can do it. After a $100 deposit and I was all set.The day of the tattoo, I was starting to get nervous as I remembered the pain from my first tattoo and hearing how rib CAGE tats hurt like a @^%&! Blake explained that it would likely not be too bad since it was lettering as opposed to a full spread. I decided to not let the fear get to me and went for it. Thankfully Blake put up screens for privacy since there were other patrons in the shop also getting work done at the time. His technique was awesome and I feel that if I had returned to the guy who did my first tattoo, I may not have survived! I'm definitely glad in how things worked out for this and I am already trying to figure out my 3rd tattoo! I would love to return to State of Grace someday. Read Less

I called after discovering this shop on Instagram. I was a little surprised, but also not that surprised that a consultation appointment ended up getting scheduled out about a month in advance. I'm assuming it was also due to my preference to meet after work.When I met Blake, my idea for the tattoo had completely changed. Basically I went from wanting a rabbit in the moon tattoo to just Japanese calligraphy of a proverb. I printed out the saying that I wanted off the Internet but explained I wanted it to have that brush calligraphy look. Blake confirmed it wouldn't be a problem since they have someone at the shop who can do it. After a $100 deposit and I was all set.The day of the tattoo, I was starting to get nervous as I remembered the pain from my first tattoo and hearing how rib CAGE tats hurt like a @^%&! Blake explained that it would likely not be too bad since it was lettering as opposed to a full spread. I decided to not let the fear get to me and went for it. Thankfully Blake put up screens for privacy since there were other patrons in the shop also getting work done at the time. His technique was awesome and I feel that if I had returned to the guy who did my first tattoo, I may not have survived! I'm definitely glad in how things worked out for this and I am already trying to figure out my 3rd tattoo! I would love to return to State of Grace someday. Read Less

Best place to get a traditional Japanese tattoo. My wife and I walked in and "En Horizaru" just happened to fly in an hour prior to us from Japan. Within the hour En was ready and we got some amazing work done. Highly recommend State of Grace and if en is there he is highly recommended as well. Read Less

I had the honor of being tattooed by Taki this winter, and I was so impressed with the shop, the artist and the end result. Taki is extremely popular in the tattoo community, and his intricate designs and meticulous attention to detail warrant a decent wait time. I booked my appointment about four months in advance, to secure the opportunity to be tattooed by Taki. I knew what kind of design I wanted, and the location on my body, but I wanted Taki to freehand the actual image. He is extremely talented in creating a design in sync to the shape and curves of your body.I previously had a quote tattooed vertically on my side, and wanted a dragon incorporated with the quote, from the top of my rib cage, down past my hip bone. Taki sketched a rough outline for me, just to illustrate the placement of the tattoo, and made sure I was happy with the size and location. During the session, Taki checked often to make sure I was comfortable and tolerable of the pain. Two hours later, he completed the outline, and I blown away by the detail and artistry. To be able to create such an intricate image solely off a loose sketch is absolutely amazing. After several sessions of shading the entire dragon, and completing the details of the cherry blossoms, I had finished my beautiful tattoo. The staff at State of Grace are so sweet and professional, especially Taki's wife Molly, and Jennifer at the front desk. All the artists have their unique styles and expertise, so be sure to communicate what you want so you can be tattooed by the best artist for you. The studio is extremely clean and spacious, and decorated with beautiful images of Japanese artwork, monmon cats, and tattoo designs books for your reading pleasure in the waiting area. Several reviews seem to have issues with the pricing at State of Grace, but you truly need to consider what you're paying for. If you're going to have something permanently on your body for the rest of your life, you want to make sure that it is done by a reputable artist. I have known dozens of people who have been tattooed at State of Grace, and not a single person has had a complaint or issue. I would highly recommend State of Grace, and Taki in particular, to anyone who is interested in a traditional Japanese tattoo.P.S. Follow them on IG - @stateofgracetaki & @stateofgracetattoo for your daily feed of beautiful, traditional japanese tattoos =) Read Less

Ive got referred to this shop by my friends dad and when I went in I loved Colins style , and decided to go with him. Ive got my side done as well as working on my sleeve now! hes always booked up so make appoinments in advance , very clean and good vibe.happy with my decision and will conitnure to go to this tattoo shop! Read Less

Thank you State of Grace for doing a superb job on my tattoo! I think one of the most important things about a tattoo parlor is how comfortable the artists and the place makes you feel. Because, let's be real, getting a tattoo is a frightening thing since it hurts a lot and it is on your body permanently. You really don't want to go to a place that makes you feel the least bit uncomfortable. To continue from that, I definitely say State of Grace made me feel so at home and not nervous at all. I have to give a shoutout to the artist that worked on me and my friend, Beau. He was very approachable, laid-back, honest, and very easy to communicate with. I went with my friend and he did both of our tats. This is my third one and it was the first time for my friend. Beau is really good at scripts so it was perfect that my friend found him because she was getting words along her rib cage. I only got a small symbol on my wrist and I already had my design. My friend didn't bring a design but just had some ideas of fonts. From her descriptions, Beau definitely drew out the font that my friend was completely satisfied with. In addition, he was very good at recommending where to place the tattoo since me and my friend are tattoo noobs. LOL. Anyway, both of our sessions were pretty fast. Mine was about 5-10 minutes and hers was about 10-15 minutes. Seriously the fastest I've seen scripts done. He really wasn't kidding about how expert he was on doing words. We were both very satisfied and despite the speed, nothing was sloppy. I think this place is more known for its intricate Japanese arts and drawings (dragons, kois, oni, lion, tiger, phoenix, etc. and not the tacky kind either). But definitely works too for first-timers or those with other tattoo ideas. I saw some really cool native-american tattoo designs up on Beau's workstation. Btw, the base is $100 and the rest is added on depending on the amount of time. Read Less

The first time I came here was actually just as support for my friend who was looking to get some Japanese characters on her side and she heard that they do really good japanese art/ lettering here. We came here over the summer on a Wednesday, wasn't too busy but it is a little hard to find. It is a shop on the second floor with only a small door next to Biscuits and a simple sign to show where it is. We walked up the steps and it opens up to a open and spacious and clean looking area with the reception desk on the left. You can see people getting tattoo-ed and artists art hanging at their stations. There are two traditional looking Japanese tatami rooms sectioned off. I believe one is Horitomo's and another one as well. My friend was actually able to get one of them to write the Japanese characters in calligraphy and got that tattoo-ed. SO SICK! We had to come back again in a few days to get the actual tattoo done, the first visit was for the consultation and down payment. I forgot who actually did my friends tattoo but I know it was a girl. My friend definitely recommended that I get my tattoo done here, she said that it was quick and clean and relatively painless. The third time I visited was just this past weekend with my bestie Sally H. to finally get a consultation for my own ink!  (no we did not get matching tattoos lol)Beau was really awesome, super calm and accommodating. Gave us good suggestions based on his experience but didn't force it in our face, he understood that in the end it was our body and ultimately we have to like it. He would have stayed later past closing to actually do the tattoos that day but due to personal reasons he could not which was totally understandable. We scheduled an appointment to get the tattoos that weekend. My friend got a symbol on her wrist, pretty small and only took about 7 minutes tops. I got script on my ribs which I was super nervous about because you know people always tell you ribs hurt the most. He definitely calmed me down and said that it wasn't as bad as people say and it really wasn't. SOME PARTS WERE PRETTY SORE NOT GONNA LIE. but overall not as bad as I expected at all. Then again I don't know how the pain compares to getting tattoos on other parts of your body since this was my first one. The more sore parts Beau made sure I was doing okay and was quick but the result was still amazing! not sure if I'll be getting anymore tattoos but if I do, I would definitely come back here. Read Less

Some of the best and nicest artist bar none Colin is my artist and he and all the staff at state of grace profuse some of the most high quality and unique art that I've ever seen. Keep up the great work guys Read Less

Colin is awesome! A true artist and a really cool guy. All the staff are awesome and are very inviting. Josh did two tattoos for my wife and Colin is working on a full sleeve for me. I am very impressed at the attention to detail that josh put into my wife's tattoos. Even though they were small he still planned the tattoo as if it were a full back piece. The talent at this shop rivals the best of the Bay Area. If you are getting a Japanese style tattoo it is a no brainer to come here but they are so well rounded with the artists they have the sky is the limit. If you want a pick and poke don't insult these guys and gals and go somewhere else, but if you want real art from a true artist then State of Grace is the place for you. Read Less