Chapter Four: A Guide to Japanese-Style Massage and Bubble Baths in Bangkok

What is a Thai bathhouse, and what is Japanese-style massage? For newcomers who have never been to Thailand, the distinction can genuinely be confusing. Many people's first introduction to Thailand's sex industry is through Thai bathhouses, simply because they are much better known than Japanese-style massage. Newcomers unfamiliar with Thai bathhouses often get carried away by promotional articles online, hoping to find the kind of service once associated with Dongguan. Reality can be harsh: in terms of service, this part of Thailand's industry lags well behind China's. If service alone is why you're coming to Thailand, there really isn't much point.

Where Are the Japanese-Style Massage Venues?

Bangkok's Japanese-style massage venues form two main clusters, north and south of Sukhumvit Road. The southern cluster starts at Soi 24, includes Soi24/1 and extends to Soi 26. This area has the largest concentration of erotic massage venues, right beside BTS Phrom Phong, making it very convenient to reach. These are the three main sois in the southern cluster.

The northern cluster is on Soi 33, north of Sukhumvit Road. It's an area with a large Japanese presence and many Japanese-style massage venues. The well-known oral-service venue 7-Heaven is here too, hence the nickname 'Soi Japan.'

Unfortunately, the entrance to Soi 33 is nearly 400 meters from the nearest BTS station, Phrom Phong, making it noticeably less convenient than the southern cluster. A note: 'soi' means a lane in Thai, so Soi 24 means Lane 24. There are also Japanese-style erotic massage venues scattered elsewhere in Bangkok, but I wouldn't recommend those to first-time visitors or anyone without a particular destination in mind. Traveling a long way to an isolated venue, finding nothing suitable and then moving elsewhere wastes time and energy.

How Japanese-Style Erotic Massage Works: Services and Procedure

The experience is fairly similar to the erotic massage services known as 'da bao jian' in China. Venues follow standard procedures, so guests who don't speak the language don't need to communicate extensively with the women.

The procedure is usually much the same: a 'wash, cut and blow-dry'—except there's no haircut, just washing and oral sex, followed by intercourse on the bed. Some specialist venues offer alternatives such as inflatable mattresses or water beds, props, anal sex or ejaculation on the face. Others have themed role-play rooms, including flight attendants, classrooms, prisons, gyms and GTA5 Vice City. Some visitors bring their girlfriend or wife for a bath together, and certain venues offer couples' services. Choose a place with a bathtub and you can also have a shared bath, with the woman washing you. One reminder: every massage includes only one round by default. If you want another round, you'll need to discuss an additional payment directly with her.

What Japanese-Style Erotic Massage Costs