(Before reading this review it is important context that I have a tendency to be 10+ books behind in my reviews and it’ll be a good while after reading a book that I end up reviewing it.)

Unfortunately, I don’t remember enough of this comic to know why I disliked it. All I remember is that I felt very disappointed the majority of the time I was reading it. I know this was supposed to be fun and silly, but when I read it I was not enjoying myself. I know I wanted to enjoy it because it is a queer story, but I just didn’t.

For once, I don’t really know what more to say about it because it did not leave me with any sort of lasting impression other than distaste.

This is such a cute manga! Sakura is so cute and funny, Ume is also adorable and fun to read about. The story was fun and easy to follow along with, without getting boring or dragging out. The main vampire, Luka is the perfect amount of naive and hilarious. I would recommend this to anyone who likes cute, fun stories.

This was mostly a cute and sweet story however it did give me the ick at times. It’s not one that I’ll personally read again nor would I go out of my way to recommend it.

A cute and sweet manga about a vampire who visits a bathhouse to rejuvenate and finds himself enamored with the local community as well as the staff. There are some of the usual tropes that dance about in BL mangas but this is fairly surface-level flirting. There's sort of the hints of the "gay-ick" with the main love interest not being interested in men and getting pretty weirded out by the main character's interest but it's also all couched in the fact that the vampire needs his blood / needs sex to help control his magic and it has to be from his pact-partner (which was also a thing that happened without consent). It's not something I'd recommend as a pro-queer story but it does fall in line with most of the BL manga I read growing up so it definitely had the nostalgia factor. I'd love to see the manga continued with the two main characters actually developing a closer relationship that makes the main love interest reconsider his reactions towards being with a man romantically/physically.

Cute little manga. I like the idea of the vampire learning about the human world and giving the humans a new perspective into their "normal." With any hinted BL there is some dubious consent.

This book seems alright for a manga, but I do not like the dubious consent of the vampire drinking blood so I could not finish.

*ARC Read

I loved the art and story line! Super cute read and loved getting to see all 6 stories.

Rating: 3.25 ⭐️
TW: LGBTQ+, partial nudity

A Vampire in the Bathhouse by Niko Izuki is a charming, light hearted slice-of-life manga that brings a cosy twist to vampire lore. The story follows a vampire who becomes intrigued by a Japanese bathhouse, eventually forming an unlikely bond with the young man set to inherit it. While the LGBTQ+ elements are present, they remain subtle, which may feel like a missed opportunity for those hoping for a more developed romantic arc. Still, the relationship that unfolds is warm, humorous, and endearing in its own right.

The characters are extremely likable, and the contained, single-volume format makes it a satisfying and low-commitment read—ideal for fans of short, feel-good manga. The overall experience is heart warming and visually delightful. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more from Niko Izuki in the future.

Thank you Netgalley and Kodansha Comics foe this ARC!

I enjoyed this manga - very lighthearted and cute stories. I always like the stories where a supernatural creature intrudes on everyday life and makes it more interesting. Nod to the food references because I think that's one of the best parts of manga. And Pequeño is adorable!

A humorous and heartwarming slice-of-life manga of a vampire of the demon realm who is intrigued by bathhouses and decides to stay in the human realm to enjoy the comfort it offers.

Ensue adorable adventures of a vampire experiencing the human world.

Every chapter was a delight to read. I read this whole thing in one sitting. The art was gorgeous too.

I especially loved the relationship of the brothers. Extremely endearing.

I liked how Luca said vampires didn't care for gender of their companions. Vampires are bisexual culture for real 🤭

Another thing I loved was how the author showed the joy and significance of communities. Beautifully done.

I only wish this was longer. I would have loved to read more of them. I certainly know that I will be coming back to this to get my dose of the wholesome supernatural found family.

4’5/5⭐️ First of all, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an arc of “A vampire in the bathhouse”. This was so cute, funny and heartwarming!! I loved the art style and the different characters in this story. The humor was pretty fun too, with the censored naked vampires xd I definitely will be reading the next one (if there’s a part two 👀)!

A Vampire in the Bathhouse is so charming and funny, even if over-reliant on that one screen tone. From its comical cover to the thought put into its contents page and its cotton candy bed, there’s a lot of care on display here. The characters are all so expressive in their own ways. Especially poor, put-upon Sakura. He’s so beautifully deadpan. I love how over he is with all of the supernatural shenanigans suddenly thrust upon him. His exasperation with Luka is funny and their friction is enjoyable, with moments of genuine affection that keep things light. But they were outshone by the adorable Umenosuke and his new pal, the demon familiar Pequeño. His immediate curiosity about this stranger makes a welcome contrast to Sakura. The surprise stars of the manga, they are a delight. They’re also where the manga is most focused – or, less kindly, where the manga is least confused.

It’s easy to see why Luka is so fond of where he’s ended up – both with the Full Moon Baths, then with the town itself. But even in those moments A Vampire in the Bathhouse crumbles under its own weight. Luka’s arrival, splashing down into the spa, is pure rom-com. And from that awkward but funny meet-cute it stumbles from romance plot point to romance plot point. Sakura is unable to go to his brother’s sports day so Luka steps up and into the family dynamic. They have what can only be seen as a date. A mystery threat from Luka’s past rears its head and of course he’s the perfect complication thrown in to be the third point in a love tangle.

A Vampire in the Bathhouse is not a romance. And it can’t help but disappoint because of that. All of these romance beats. All of this build-up. All of it unresolved. Little helped by the abruptness of the ending. And so the story hangs like a too-small coat on a too-big hanger. However, it was hilarious, and I’m curious to see what this mangaka will make with more time and experience.

With thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha, I leave this review voluntarily.

Thanks to Kodansha and Netgalley for the ARC!

A Vampire in the Bathhouse is a cozy manga about a vampire who becomes interested in a traditional Japanese bathhouse.

The son set to inherit the family bathhouse and the vampire join into a pact and we see them grow closer (perhaps not as close as I had expected for a book with an LGBT tag sadly.)

If you treat this story as a slice of life story you won't be disappointed.

The art is both beautiful and cute, I can't wait to see more from Niko Izuki.

What a cute manga and a great start to the series! The humor and the tasteful censoring needed for the bathhouse environment definitely made me chuckle, and the sense of community that the town has is so sweet. I'm looking forward to continuing the series and hoping that Sakura and Luka continue to learn from each other and grow their relationship. Also curious if we get to see what the demons think of Yomi bathhouse and how Umenosuke continues to be so cute and perfect!

'Vampire in the Bathhouse' is like a manga version of a hot bath - a relaxing and pleasurable soak into frivolity, but without anyone ending up with pruney toes. It's an odd set-up, at first— a vampire with a hangover elects to travel from his home in the demon realm to a public bath in Japan in order to recover, only to make a covenant with the bathhouse's young manager that leads him to remaining in the human realm and becoming sort of an "odd uncle" within the manager's family circle. And, while this volume flirts with some BL-imagery, 'Vampire in the Bathhouse' ultimately ends up as a series of cozy found-family tales, as the vampire's overconfidence in day-to-day tasks is undermined by his loose control over his magic in the human world and lack of familiarity with social customs, often punctuated with moments marveling at the power of small, shared experiences. If you enjoyed the Paddington films, but were hoping for more shots of handsome, barely-clothed men, or are just in the market for a BL-tinged, easygoing comedy title, I recommend checking this one out!

Everything is in the title : a noble vampire bored out of his mind decides to visit the human world after hearing about an incredible onsen. There is comedy, found family and an ambiguous relationship between the silly vampire and the young owner of the bathhouse. It was an entertaining read and each chapter is constructed like a mini story on its own (school trip, summer festival...). I would recommend this manga to those who enjoy light-hearted stories and cosy fantasy.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC !

Very heartwarming, fun manga with gorgeous artwork and extremely likeable characters.

The only reason it didn’t get 5 stars is that the dialogue could be sharper and funnier. Other than that, really enjoyed it and would be happy to continue the series!

A slice of life comedy with supernatural elements. Vampire Luka visits the Full Moon bath house in Japan looking for some relaxation. He runs amok of the caretaker Sakura who puts him to work the human way. Other creatures begin to emerge and investigate the human business that has Luka fascinated.

Topic allows for a great blend of art styles - the elegance of the visiting demons nicely compliments the everydayness of the human world. I love it when the demons learn things from human children.

3.5⭐

There's lovely art (especially the main characters are very, very nice to look at) and cute slice of life stuff, but nothing that feels fresh or different. Not much actual plot either, which isn't that surprising for a slice of life, really, but I still would have hoped for a more coherent volume. (The BL is barely there.)

This reignited my love for manga. I didn't know what to expect going into this, but was pleasantly surprised by how light-hearted and sweet this manga was. I know this is a full story in one volume, but I need more of Sakura, Luka, and little Umenosuke. I also just really like vampires.