Columns Yoshiwara Soapland

Yoshiwara Soaplands: Hand-Picked

Elon, with 20-plus years in the fuzoku world, breaks down his hand-picked Yoshiwara soaplands from firsthand experience.

Yoshiwara Soaplands: Hand-Picked

I'll give you the verdict up front: Yoshiwara soaplands, hand-picked. Soapland is a bath-based licensed adult format.

Let me walk through it step by step.

My experience and this topic

From my twenties into my forties, I've walked this world the whole way. And this particular topic is one I've had to face again and again.

Elon
ElonHaving scouted nightlife worlds across the globe, my conclusion is that "the nightlife rooted in local culture is the richest." In that sense I think Japan's fuzoku is world-class. That's not blind love — it's a verdict reached by comparison.

Points you should know

  • Nailing the basics comes first — the advanced stuff only stands on top of the fundamentals
  • Piled-up experience is the best teacher — you don't absorb it just by reading
  • Find a shop you can trust — to cut down on the time you waste second-guessing
Elon
ElonMy first time at a Yoshiwara soapland was at 25 — back before I'd had the pearl put in. These days, the reaction when I go in with the pearl is part of the fun. The conversations with a girl who asks "What's this?" turn out to be surprisingly enjoyable.

The option I'm pushing right now

Elon
ElonI don't aim to conquer every soapland in the country, but I've made the rounds of each region's "signature" soaplands. My conclusion: "service quality and cleanliness don't scale with price." Even a dirt-cheap shop can have downright divine service.

My bottom line: I recommend a visit to First Class Ruby. The service quality, the ease of booking, the overall level — it's all consistently solid.