Kaikan Onsen: a review

[Enchanted_Elixir]

 

Kaikan Onsen: First Impressions

Straight away you’ll notice how different Kaikan feels compared with some of the older saunas in Bangkok like Sauna mania. There’s a modern sleekness to the building, a strong Japanese aesthetics/minimalist vibe. Plenty of pools and zones, a real men‑only playground. It has a spacious main pool and a long jacuzzi pool beside it. It is the only onsen style men facility with outdoor pool in Bangkok. All others are entirely indoors.

The Crowd & Vibe

This place is not cliquey in the way that some places can feel (“you must know someone, you must be part of a group…”). It leans open and inclusive. Body types? Everything from lean twinks to more mature guys, a lot in their 30s to 40s, comfortable in their bodies, relaxed rather than hyper‑sculpted. With an occasional bear. Age range seems broader too, older guys show up, they mix in, and there’s less of that “everyone must be 23 and ripped” pressure than in some rivals. Please do your research on the onsens before you go. Ryuu onsen for example is notorious in being cliquey and making those who don’t fit their criteria feel unwelcome. While the onsens in Bangkok does not have clear age boundaries like many saunas in Japan. That does not mean you are made to feel welcome everywhere (!)

Facilities Worth Mentioning

Outdoor pool: one of the few gay men‑only onsen/sauna venues in Bangkok that features a proper outdoor pool area. Multiple zones: steam room, sauna, milky bath, cold pool, and a “cave”‑style milky pool that gets a lot of thumbs up for mood. Lockable cabins and private rooms upstairs, good for chilling or more discreet chats. The place is “busy but not chaotic” and the crowd “friendly, educated”.

Please bring condoms and lube if you intend to spend early time in the lockable or not so lockable cabins upstairs. If you want to attend the secret hour, then lube and condoms are provided free of charge.

The “Secret Hour”

There’s a special moment from around 8:30 pm upstairs where things shift. Models in glowing necklaces appear; and are available for fun in public. The vibe becomes more party‑charged, play enters into the mix, orgiastic.  If you’re comfortable with more “social” or “interactive” atmospheres, this is when the scene deepens. 

Pro Tips:

Arrival earlier in the evening gets you better space in the pool areas; if you turn up late, you might find the premium spots taken.

While the place feels inclusive, staff are a bit tight lipped.

Pricing is transparent but premium compared with some older saunas (450B during weekend).

Also be aware of the day (complete nude day etc check their facebook beforehand) Also you will be informed which models will be attending the secret hour.

I will not review the facilities in depth as this has been done on YouTube:

 

[jason1975]

Thanks for writing detailed review!

[vinapu]

yes, great job Elixir 

[PeterRS]

It does seem to be much more of a hot spring/sauna mix type of venue unlike, say, the newer and classier of the two Yunomori hot springs in Sathorn Soi 10. This certainly has some eye candy but the younger Thais who attend all seem to want to cover their "assets" with their hands or small towels!