Ikebukuro & Shinjuku Soapland Resource Thread

[mylotion]

No shortage of tourists with more money than sense walking around in Kabuchiko. With the yen being as weak as it is, a lot of tourists will fork it over.

I reluctantly probably would too. I guess now is the time to seek out gaijin friendly SL's beyond just the Kabukicho Barubola branch, which is the only one I've tried.

 

[Cinnabums]

I'm aware there are a lot of other no gaijin tax shops, too, ofc. Barubola just makes me sad because it's the shop I've been to the most and I even have two pending reviews praising the damn place.

I would hate that too, at least you can comment regarding current events once review is published.

 

[Cinnabums]

Ikebukuro soaplands Marine Blue Honten and Annex changed their prices on 4/27.

 

[omp]

Ikebukuro soaplands Marine Blue Honten and Annex changed their prices on 4/27.

Didn't raise gaijin tax, at least

 

[ketchup]

Also, Wakaba got a big makeover. Rebranding? Has it always been owned by the Marine Blue group? Because it is now. And wow.

Lots of new girls.

Also, there seems to be even better talent at Bekkan.

What's going on with the Marine Blue group in Ikebukuro?

 

[Cinnabums]

Also, Wakaba got a big makeover. Rebranding?

Really, neither OHP or City Heaven suggest that.

Does it now have the same hideous design as all other Marine Blue shops?

Has it always been owned by the Marine Blue group? Because it is now.

No, still, web pages don't suggest that but them and Kadoebi owning most Shinjuku and Ikebukuro store's must be a negative in the long run.

Not listed on Marine Blue list of shops yet but I guess we need to give it a few day's.

https://marineblue-g.com/shop

 

[ketchup]

Really, neither OHP or City Heaven suggest that.

No, still, web pages don't suggest that but them and Kadoebi owning most Shinjuku and Ikebukuro store's must be a negative in the long run.

Really? It looks like they updated all of the girls' pics and the branding is now for high quality rather than value.

And it is definitely owned by the same group as Marine Blue now. I asked the guy at the front desk if they were 経営列店 and he said they were.

 

[Sudsy]

them and Kadoebi owning most Shinjuku and Ikebukuro store's must be a negative in the long run

At least Kadoebi doesn't rebrand everything in the same garish colours.

 

[jackoffinthebox]

At least Kadoebi doesn't rebrand everything in the same garish colours.

Yea but in a way that's more sneaky because they have more power to price fix but still make it seem like the shops are competing.

 

[Danbo]

Yea but in a way that's more sneaky because they have more power to price fix but still make it seem like the shops are competing.

Kadoebi shops span a big spectrum from very cheap to pricey...so a lot of them are not in direct "competition".
But since all of them (except one) have high gaijin taxes they are just not that interesting.

 

[ketchup]

At least Kadoebi doesn't rebrand everything in the same garish colours.

This is what gave it away and why I asked at the front desk

 

[jackoffinthebox]

Kadoebi shops span a big spectrum from very cheap to pricey...so a lot of them are not in direct "competition".
But since all of them (except one) have high gaijin taxes they are just not that interesting.

That's what I'm referring to. If it seems like a wide array of shops have a high gaijin tax it seems normal. When in reality it's just one company doing it

 

[Danbo]

Ikebukuro soaplands Marine Blue Honten and Annex changed their prices on 4/27.

Thanks, I updated Honten accodingly. Seems like the price change at Annex didn't affect the cheapest course.

 

[Cinnabums]

Yea but in a way that's more sneaky because they have more power to price fix but still make it seem like the shops are competing.

White Fairy has shops all over the place, some allow foreigners, two of them charge crazy foreigner fees, a few dont, one only caters to foreigners, the whole spectrum. No shops in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro though.

 

[qcjbz]

Hi. I just want to confirm that Polaris is not charging gaijin tax for AJP foreigners.
Can't vouch for other situations and back when they were "Miss Senhime" they DID charge 10k.

 

[Alice]

Does it now have the same hideous design as all other Marine Blue shops?

As far as I can tell, Wakaba has always had the obvious marine blue design since some time during the pandemic!

 

[Alice]

At least Kadoebi doesn't rebrand everything in the same garish colours.

I love their designs actually! Grace in Ikebukuro looks pretty nice.

 

[Alice]

Hi. I just want to confirm that Polaris is not charging gaijin tax for AJP foreigners.
Can't vouch for other situations and back when they were "Miss Senhime" they DID charge 10k.

I wonder if senhime rose from the dead, reminded them she used to be a nun in the later part of her life and demanded a name change…

 

[therowat]

Hi. I just want to confirm that Polaris is not charging gaijin tax for AJP foreigners.
Can't vouch for other situations and back when they were "Miss Senhime" they DID charge 10k.

That place is a little more expensive than Wlakaba's fee, including the gaijin tax. Have you been to Polaris? It was refurbished last year or so, I think, so I wonder how it is inside.

 

[therowat]

As far as I can tell, Wakaba has always had the obvious marine blue design since some time during the pandemic!

I don't know when it changed but Google Streetview still shows the less gaudy design.

 

[ketchup]

Hi. I just want to confirm that Polaris is not charging gaijin tax for AJP foreigners.
Can't vouch for other situations and back when they were "Miss Senhime" they DID charge 10k.

Just dropped by Polaris. Gaijin tax is in effect. 18,000 + 10,000 gaijin tax for 50 min. Told the attendant I had heard they did away with the gaijin tax after renewal, but he confirmed it is still in play.

 

[Danbo]

Just dropped by Polaris. Gaijin tax is in effect. 18,000 + 10,000 gaijin tax for 50 min. Told the attendant I had heard they did away with the gaijin tax after renewal, but he confirmed it is still in play.

Thanks for the update 👍

 

[therowat]

Hello all. I have what may, to the more experienced of you, seem a daft question. I want to try Marine Blue in Ikebukuro. From these forums I know that they have some mat play rooms (and 5F does not) and I also know that some girls there do mat play and others do not. I have checked several profiles of the girls who work there and I cannot see which of the ladies might be OK for mat play. Short of either speaking to the tenchou or befriending many girls on CityHeaven or Hime Channel and asking them, does anyone know how I can check which ladies support the mat play option?

 

[Danbo]

Hello all. I have what may, to the more experienced of you, seem a daft question. I want to try Marine Blue in Ikebukuro. From these forums I know that they have some mat play rooms (and 5F does not) and I also know that some girls there do mat play and others do not. I have checked several profiles of the girls who work there and I cannot see which of the ladies might be OK for mat play. Short of either speaking to the tenchou or befriending many girls on CityHeaven or Hime Channel and asking them, does anyone know how I can check which ladies support the mat play option?

I would simply ask the shop. They should know. I have to admit I have never been to Marina Blue, but asked them about girls who was interested in if they serve foreigners....but since the ones that peaked my interest didn't, I never went.

 

[Ken Obi]

First of all, thanks OP for this awesome thread. In all the times I've been in Tokyo, this was my first time in Ikebukuro, and I found this guide invaluable, especially having the map.

Just wanted to give some feedback about shops as of June 2024

Great time at Awa no Dendoshi, Bunny Girl, Senhime, Marine Blue (Annex and North Exit).

On the other hand, got refused at Tohri and Polaris, which were shown to be OK on the list. I speak Japanese well enough to fool someone for the first minute, but was shown the door right away.

Granted this was in the middle of the day, and shops might want to keep up appearances. I've been in gaijin NG places depending on the tencho, the time of day, the phase of the moon, so the refusals may just have been me, today.