Higashi-Shinjuku, appointments: 090-6127-0993, email. The unique, intimate feeling of pleasurable oil massage relaxation. In and outcall sessions available. Deeply relaxing, exotic massage (non-sexual) for relief from pain and fatigue. Closed on Wed. Utopia Member Discount

Shinagawa, 080-6751-9386, email. Relax with a rubdown after a hard day's work. Oil massage, foot and hand massage from a muscular masseur. Outcall only, 24-hour service.

4/F Fukutomi Bld, 2-13-14 Akasaka, Minato-ku, 5563-0523. From Akasaka station (Chiyoda line) take Exit 2 onto Akasaka St (opposite Tully Coffee) and turn right and walk to the intersection with Yoshinoya on the opposite diagonal corner. Make a right turn onto Misuzu St and walk straight ahead until you reach the 2nd-to-the-last building on the left side. You will see a rainbow flag on the 4th floor. The entrance is between the Real Estate office on the right and Mool Collection on the left. Take the elevator to 4/F. Foreign-patronized hattenba, so it attracts Japanese who like gaijin. Sat, Sun and holidays are naked days, other days are underwear. Open noon until late. All ages and types.

ASAKUSA

2-29-16 Taito-ku, 5827-2424. Facing out from the front of the Asakusa Prince Hotel, locate the Asakusa Hanayashiki Amusement Park rides in the neighborhood opposite, near the Senso-ji Temple. Cross the road and take the lane circling around the left side of this amusement park. 24 sauna is located at the rear, in this lane. Look for the sign with "24" on it. This is the first, and oldest, branch of the 24 chain. It has an older and frequently tattooed clientele, but it's definitely an interesting experience. Same basic format as the other saunas listed below. Foreigners are welcome, though not common. Mix rooms are not very clean and the place is a bit shabby now compared to the newer Ueno facility. The steam room and semi-private showers are quite cruisy. Friendly, and plenty of fun during the night, some of it a bit kinky.

Comments from Utopians:

"Still good for older men. However, the clientele is getting a little far out, with trannys and even an occasional older 'lady of the night' sometimes present." -- spup, Dec 15, 2008

IKEBUKURO

2-30-19 Toshima-ku, Ikebukuro Ni-Chome, 3931-0186. Small, unpretentious, clean and it has always welcomed foreigners (open since 1973!) and so it also attracts gaisen (J guys who like gainjin). From Ikebukuro Station, travel underground to the West Exit. If it's early in the evening, follow the underground passage to the C1 Exit. If the underground passageway is closed, exit the Station from the escalators leading up to the main West entrance. Walk directly perpendicular from the Station, along the main road, about 10 blocks (from the C1 Exit continue straight ahead for four blocks). Look for the Jinya sign in English on the lamp post and a rainbow tiled wall on the shop at the corner--turn right here and follow the crooked alley for three blocks (there are English-language signs for Jinya posted along the way). Jinya is on the left, just before the main road (where you will see a large love motel with a giant, neon-lit 10 yen coin logo). Enter and remove your shoes, put them into a shoe locker (free) and get an entry ticket from the dispensing machine (still Y$2,200. at this update). Five mix rooms, the one in B/F plays gay videos before sleeping hours. Zen mappadaka (nude sunbathing) is allowed on the roof. Nice, hot Japanese style bath and small dry sauna room in B/F (bath closes for cleaning from 11:00-15:00 daily, so be sure to bathe before 10am if you've stayed the night).

ROPPONGI

Take the Hibiya Line to Roppongi Station, Exit 3. Make a right, cross the road at the first traffic junction and turn right. You should see TGI Fridays, and eventually Tokyo Tower. Walk a few blocks until you see the green Irish pub, Hobgoblin. Make a left on that street, right at the first alley, left at the next alley. Club located on 2/F in the last building, which is behind a bar called Lost Angels. Lots of hot, in-shape 20-30yo guys in this hattenba. Customers over 40 are allowed in only on Fri.

SHINJUKU NI-CHOME, SAN-CHOME

The easiest way to get to the gay area is to take the underground walkway from Shinjuku Station's East Exit (down one floor after the train exit ticket machines) to Exit C5, C6, or C8 (see map).

The Shinjuku Ni-Chome neighborhood is easy to navigate using our Utopia map:

2-13-1 Shinjuku Ni-Chome (see map), 3354-2424. Newest branch of this popular sauna, brilliantly located right in the heart of the gay nightlife area. It attracts the bar crowd who come here to overnight, expats and visitors. The most cosmopolitan and busiest of the gay saunas. Foreign friendly. Staff at reception speak basic English. When you arrive, take off your shoes and put a Y$10 coin into the locker slot to lock them inside. Next go over to the machine to buy an admission ticket which allows you to stay for a maximum of 13 hours. Then, take your key and ticket to the counter staff to exchange for a locker key and a bag consisting of a robe, face and bath towel. If you are staying overnight, they may request your passport according to Japanese guidelines. The guys are numerous, young and hot. Good mixture of races. Showers and steam rooms are on 3/F. Plenty of futon on 4/F where people do a lot more than just sleep. Everyone seems to be busy, even out in the open. Safety supplies available at reception.

Comments from Utopians:

"I have a little different take on 24 Kaikan Shinjuku. I ended up having a good experience here, but it was not exactly what I was looking for. The setting is kind of tawdry and the facilities weren't as nice as I had hoped for. I did like the guys I met though, they were hot and fun. Not a great selection on a Mon night though. I did have fun though." -- cramberrybog, Nov 18, 2008

"24 Kaikan is the place if you are looking for easy fun. Good looking Japanese. Their Stardust Room has ongoing group activity (while the guys pretend to sleep)." -- knigth, Nov 4, 2008

"I have been here three times. The first time the guys didn't seem to be interested in foreigners. But then my Japanese friend explained to me how things work here: the guys who lie down on the bunk beds are just waiting to be serviced, so anyone can touch, stroke or play with them and they will not say a word. If you expect the guys to approach you that won't happen as they are quite shy and do not like to be seen having fun with foreigners in public, so I advise you to get a private room. It is worth it as guys will easily come to your room and have as much fun you both want." -- tozinim, Sep 29, 2008

"I am an older gwm and thought it was good. Lots of hot looking young local guys, most of these not interested in older GWMs and seemed to be mainly 'sticky', but overall a place really worth visiting. Lots of group fun happening." -- abj1, Apr 29, 2008

B1 Dai-2 Seiko Bld (see map), 2-18-5 Shinjuku Ni-Chome, 3226-4006. Red sign on the corner of the building. Dark cruise space with theme nights and DJ spinning. Open 9pm-4am.

1/F UI Bld, 5-9-6 Shinjuku-ku (see map), 3226-4448. There is a small sign above the door. Type is younger to middle-aged butch guys. Open Mon-Thu, 3pm-10am and 24 hours Sat-Sun.

UENO

Showa Do-ri, 3847-2424. From Ueno Station, exit and look for the elevated highway running along side the station. Walk two short blocks to this highway, make a left, and follow the main road which runs under the elevated road for approximately eight minutes (this side of the main street is lined with motorcycle shops). Watch the opposite side of the road for a 7-11 convenient store and, just beyond it on the corner, a large reddish-tiled building with a sign in Japanese and the number "24". Cross the street. Entrance is around the corner, by stairway to the second floor. (Or take the Hibiya Subway to Iriya Station, and take Exit 1. Walk along Showa Do-ri towards Ueno Station, about 3 minutes walk). Note that the shoe lockers have two kinds of keys: the red keys are for expensive, private rooms, the white keys for a standard locker (2,400. yen before 21:00 for 12 hours of use; 2,800. yen after 21:00 for 14 hours). Take your shoes off before stepping onto the carpet. Put your shoes in a locker with a white key, add a 10 yen coin, close the door and remove the key. Give the attendant your shoe locker key. Signs and announcements here are in English and Japanese. The attendant will give you a plastic bag with your towels and robe, as well as a wristband with your locker key. Be sure to return all towels and robe in this same plastic bag when you leave. There are also toiletries and small toys available in the display cases which you may purchase. This branch of the popular "24 Hour" sauna chain is new, clean, and ten stories high. Age range is late 20s to 40s, short hair, beards, bear and G-men type (masculine). Chubby is very popular in Japan and so many of these bears are, though there are also younger, thinner and non-bear chasers as well. Lockers and TV relax room are on the third floor. Note the Zen koan-like sign which admonishes "No hair dyeing or gum chewing." The fourth floor has a large and lovely bathing area with washing area, three different temperature pools (two hot, one icy cold), sun tanning beds, misted shower room, steam room, dry sauna, and a wonderful warm water mist room that makes you feel like you are in a dark rain forest. Leave your robe in a cubbyhole locker outside and carry your washcloth modestly positioned over your crotch, or on top of your shoulder or head while submerged in the relaxing pools (remember, wash first in the showers or at the soaping stools before entering the relaxing tubs). After bathing, head upstairs to the various mix rooms, specialty lounges, dude ranch bunk beds, spy hole room, fundoshi S/M playroom, a fully equipped gym on the 10th floor or the rooftop sunbathing deck which closes at 7pm. If you are brave, try your hand at the controls on their space age commodes.

OTHER AREAS

Email. Young gay nudist cruise spot.

1-1-15 Negish, Taito-ku, 3844-4567. Sauna.