Japan’s brothels disguised as bathhouses that offer full-service sex and Nuru massage services behind closed doors can be found doing business as “Soaplands” across the country even though there are laws in place that prohibit direct prostitution.
Newcomers may need clarification on the intricacies of these adult services, as explicit explanations on what’s offered officially are nowhere to be found from the businesses themselves. So, if this is your first time visiting one, check out our complete guide here before you do.
Japanese fluency is no longer essential when visiting a Soapland as shop policies adapt to the changing environment with the ever-increasing number of international visitors to the country yearly.
Forward-thinking proprietors are becoming savvy, dropping racist shop policies, helping drive new revenue streams by providing multilingual sites, and hiring bilingual staff to assist curious travelers seeking to taste the once closely guarded delicacies of the land.
There are thirty six Soaplands in central Tokyo, with an additional brothel near Haneda Airport in Kawasaki that one can visit with zero Japanese.
Contents
Shinjuku Soapland
There are eight foreigner-friendly Soaplands located in Shinjuku, the most popular being Barbuola of Marine Blue, located on prime real estate next to Shinjuku Prince Hotel parallel to the train tracks heading north towards Shin-Okubo station on the JR Yamanote Line.
Directly behind Don Quixote in Kabukicho, you will find four additional Soaplands in the vicinity, located in two separate buildings on the adjacent blocks on the outer perimeters of Kabukicho’s Red Light District.
Behind the Godzilla statue, towards the only batting center in Shinjuku, surrounded by love hotels. A long-standing Soapland of New Grand can be found nestled within the chaos.
Out of the Red Light District of Shinjuku, you will find the last two Soaplands within a 10-minute walk of the area towards Tokyo’s LGBTQ zone of Shinjuku 2 Chome. The building where you will find these two brothels of the “Kado Ebi” group have its branding conveniently located on top of the building, which can be seen from a distance.
- Don Juan
- Sinkaigyo
- Soapland Max
- New Grand
- Lounge Yoki Tokyo
- the SPA KADOEBI
- New Hime
- Barubola Marine Blue
Ikebukuro Soapland
There are eight Soaplands in Ikebukuro, all located North of the Ikebukuro Station.
Two are located on the East side of the tracks, with the rest on the other side, North of Ikebukuro station on the JR Yamanote Line.
Ikebukuro’s budget-friendly Soaplands that are foreigner-friendly are dominated by two groups that have a monopoly on the brothels in the area that include:
- Marine Blue with two locations
- Kado Ebi with five locations
The only independent Soapland that you will find in Ikebukuro is Wakaba.
Yoshiwara Soapland
There are seventeen Soaplands in Tokyo’s premier Soapland zone of Yoshiwara, north of the popular tourist destination of Asakusa, where Sensoji Temple is located.
The area offers the most options in one small area one can visit as a foreigner in all of Japan with various Soaplands at varying price points for all budgets.
Before visiting, familiarize yourself with the area with our guide here.
- Tokyo Bunnys Club (47)
- Seijio (39)
- LUXE (7)
- NEO TOKYO (51)
- Casanova (16)
- Soaplande Tokyo (49)
- Kinpei Platinum (50)
- Club Gentlemen (48)
- Alice Cafe (56)
- Cospara (57)
- G Body (92)
- Martini (74)
- Versailles (93)
- Colorful (69)
- CLUB39 (100)
- Blue Tokyo (41)
- Aile d’Ore (105)
Asakusa Soapland
Within a short walking distance from Sensoji Temple of Asakusa, you can find a lone standing Soapland battling out on a quiet back street behind Asakusa’s Don Quijote on the main shopping strip.
Soapland Max operates two branches in Tokyo, one in Shinjuku’s Red-Light District, which is also foreigner-friendly like its branch in Asakusa.
Gotanda Soapland
One of the most conveniently located Soaplands in Tokyo, Gotanda is surrounded by the city’s most affluent suburbs, where a large community of the capitols expats call home.
This standalone Soapland, the only one in the area, is a short walk from the west exit of Gotanda Station on the JR Yamanote line. Away from the East exists chaos, infamously known as being home to one of the most popular pink salons during its time for foreigners, Emotion / Dio (defunct).
Kawasaki Soapland
Open in September 2023 as a predecessor to Paradise, the first and only Soapland geared strictly with foreigners in mind from the get-go. Known for being Tokyo Hentai Club’s full-service brothel, the loosely affiliated group of services has been in business for almost a decade now, serving the international community with its “for foreigners only” business model with its various adult services.
Becoming an instant hit with hobbyists worldwide with their wide selection of foreigner-loving providers and ease of use. An easy detour for sex tourists traveling to Tokyo from Japan’s busiest international airport, Haneda.
Helpful Resources
- Soapland Guide for Full Service Brothels in Japan
- Official Yoshiwara Guide to Tokyo Soaplands
- Foreigner Friendly Soaplands in Tokyo
- Soapland Zones in Japan
- Best Sites for Buying Sex in Japan
Everything you need to know about Japan's commercial sex scene in Tokyo and beyond. From Escorts to Soaplands, the only source you need
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