Number of adult-only bathhouses in Japan 2015-2023
In 2023, there were approximately 1.21 thousand so-called soaplands operating in the Japanese sex industry. Soaplands are adult-only bathhouses, offering customers both erotic washing services as well as sexual services.
While prostitution is officially illegal in Japan, the domestic adult entertainment industry took advantage of legal loopholes to work around this ban. Businesses falling under the category of adult entertainment include, among others, strip clubs, massage parlors, love hotels, call-girl services, as well as video- and phone-based services.