Thanks to NetGalley, Niko Izuki, and Kodansha Comics for providing a review copy.

A Vampire in the Bathhouse is a charming, cozy read that blends supernatural elements with slice-of-life warmth. From the first few pages, Niko Izuki’s art style stands out—gorgeously drawn characters and expressive panels pull you into a world that feels both whimsical and inviting.

The story has a gentle tone, focusing more on character interaction and quiet moments than dramatic plot twists. While it does take its time getting to the narrative’s heart—particularly a more defined storyline that only emerges in the final two chapters—the ride is still enjoyable thanks to the likable cast and soft humor.

That said, the pacing is a bit uneven. There are stretches where the plot feels like it’s meandering, which might test the patience of some readers. It’s never boring, but it occasionally feels like it’s waiting to become something more. The introduction of a compelling new character near the end helps bring some momentum, and their design and presence really elevate the conclusion.

This manga could have easily benefited from being a bit longer or as part of a duology. It never feels rushed, but there’s a sense that more time in this world could have allowed deeper character development and more fully realized story arcs. The ending teases some uncertainty for one of the leads, but a bonus chapter ties everything together nicely, offering a satisfying and complete conclusion.

If you’re in the mood for a feel-good manga featuring platonic BL elements, friendly vampires and demons, and a relaxing, low-stakes atmosphere, A Vampire in the Bathhouse is well worth your time—perfect for a cozy afternoon.

This was a really good story. From the artwork to the story. I love that both are open and honest about everything. Also, how they become like a little found family. Luka the demon vampire looking for a place to relax, and he found something much more.Sakura family owns this bathhouse and he’s been working there since he was a child. And he also takes care of his little brother. I like the fact that you get a little drama from a one-sided enemy. Also, you get to see them go a few day-to-day life and do little task. Because you can see just how much this bathhouse means to everybody. The little brother and the little demon are just so adorable. They’re just best friends. I really did enjoy reading this book so much.

I’m not quite sure how to rate this one. On the one hand, the art is gorgeous. The characters are all beautifully drawn and they all have unique designs, which meant I never struggled to tell them apart. 5 stars for the art alone.

But on the other hand, the story is not quite there. The pacing is slow, which made me think this would be a longer series, but it seems this is actually a single volume. And for a single volume, the ending is far too abrupt … There is a bonus chapter which tries to answer a few questions, but it’s not enough. So, so disappointing.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ art
2 ⭐️⭐️ story
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ overall

Get this if you like BL and vampires/demons and you like platonic romance.

3.5
The art style is adorable, and the charcters, although they could have been more fleshed out, felt quite relatable.
I wish there had been more situations in which the relationship dynamics could have evolved more. The short story sequences didn't quite catch that. The plot felt fast paced and it was a little bit chaotic at times but I think a lot of the scenes were very cute, and again: the art style is gorgeous!

A super charming book! I think that the peaceful yet upbeat interactions between the characters are a good time to engage with. The different characters you get introduced to broaden the world and bring in fun new personalities to the cast. I would recommend giving this a try as the plot is pleasant and feel-good.

Thank you Netgalley, Kodansha Comics, and Niko Izuki for sending me this advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a fun little slice of life bath house story, but with tons of vampires and demons! It was hilarious, and even a little bit queer too. I really enjoyed it, and all the characters were unique in their own ways, and I loved every single one.

IDK what I was expecting but this wasn't it. While funny and an interesting story on the whole, it was all over the place. The magic system wasn't really interesting. Why would he make a pace without mentioning it? I was also expecting more tension for this being a manga but it just wasn't that great

Even though this series is only one volume, I thoroughly enjoyed everything from the art to the likeable cast. Luka and Sakura's shenanigans were fun to see and I would do just about anything to see them in more chapters and volumes. Regardless, it's a quick read that'll make you smile, want to go to a bathhouse or onsen, and wish for more chapters!

Really really cute and funny. I loved the antics all these demons/vampires get up to. And the nonsense rules they follow. I'll definitely be looking out for a volume 2.

This manga is so cute! The art is lovely and I adore all the characters and the setting! Everyone is so fun and unique and their relationships with one another are to die for cute!

A funny slice of life manga about a vampire and a human who manages a bath house. Full of sexy demons and funny banter this is a great light hearted read. Would recommend if you were a fan of Kamisama Kiss, same vibes just gay and sexier.

<blockquote><i>Wherever our hopes are, is where the Full Moon Baths will be!</i></blockquote>
This was absolutely delightful! Like, all the way through reading this, I had a huge smile on my face. It has its faults and its flaws, no doubt, but when faced with the things about it that I enjoyed, those flaws seem so insignificant. It was cute and hilarious in a really simple way, and it's exactly what I needed. We're following a posh vampire from another realm, who decides that a visit to the human realm, and specifically to a Japanese bathhouse, is just what he needs to cure his ennui. There, he meets Sakura, the grandson of the owner, and through a series of complicated events, starts living and working at the bathhouse.

I adored this. The art was really lovely; sometimes super intricate, especially when we get scenes of Luka's home, and his elaborate outfits. And I really love the way the mangaka drew people and expressions. It's a style that's slightly reminiscent of <i>Spy Family</i>, or other manga in that vein. There's a certain expression characters would make when they're being deadpan or sarcastic, and I just love it. This is kinda slice of life, showing us life at the bathhouse, but mostly Sakura taking care of his little brother Umenosuke, and how Luka ends up helping with that. Listen to me: I would die for Umenosuke. I LOVE THAT KID SO MUCH; HE'S SUCH A SWEETHEART. He's definitely the reason why my rating is this high. He's such a little darling, with his determination and care and love for his brother and friendship with his lil demon buddy! I wanna cry just thinking about him. 

There's also a hint of romance between Luka and Sakura; mostly just Luka flirting and Sakura being flustered and annoyed. I am who I am, so I would have really preferred if there had been MORE romance? And I'm kinda disappointed that this is apparently a standalone. There's definitely more to be done and said in this universe, and the way it ends makes this feel kind of incomplete. (Which is the biggest of the flaws that I alluded to.) But I can't bring myself to complain too much, because I just loved the substance of this so much. Definitely recommended, if you're in the mood for something cute and light-hearted.

I had no idea what to expect going into this one, but I'm happy to report it was delightful.

This was a very quick, fluffy read. I adored the characters and the bathhouse. Luka was so funny and full of himself, but also the thought and care he put into taking care of Sakura and his little brother was just so sweet. I just couldn't not love him. While this story was a lot of fun- it felt underdeveloped in parts.

There was quite a bit that happened that felt very rushed and that was disappointing. It felt like this one should've been expanded into a few more volumes.

Yes, I read this one because I think the cover is freaking adorable. I was very happy to discover that the story is equally delightful and the art is beautiful. I do wish it was an ongoing series because the ending isn't particularly satisfying, but I'm still very happy to have read it.

This was such a cute, lighthearted manga. You can definitely tell that it was originally separate short comics that were combined and the story doesn’t always flow the best. However, it was never enough to take me out of the story.

The art is gorgeous and honestly I decided to read it just based on the cover alone. I really enjoyed the character designs and thought everyone was well done. Umenosuke was adorable and I love him.

The ending was really abrupt and I do wish it was either wrapped up a bit more or that there were more volumes.

This was such a fun manga to read. And the art style is amazing. The characters were also very interesting. However, I felt like the story was a bit stagnant.

Thank you, NetGalley & Kodansha Comics for access to the manga!

This was a really fun, low-stakes read. There's a festival, a school track meet, and, of course, bathhouses. The concept was interesting and made me want to go to a bathhouse for all the restorative properties.

I would love to see Sakura and Luka continue their partnership. Luka the vampire was a fantastic character, and it was nice seeing him interact in the human world & help out Sakura. It would have been beneficial to show more of Luka's kingdom and see how his personality fits as a ruler. Hopefully, there will be more of his background explored in the sequel.

Okay so thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this comic/manga. My honest review is that if you're looking for a soft and cute BL manga, you definitely have to read this because it's short and funny and easy to read. I have to say my favourite character is the baby.

3.75/5

First of all, thanks to netgalley and Kodansha comics for sending me this in return of my honest review. I absolutely love manga and graphic novels, but this was not like the typically ones I read. However, it was super cute and funny. The illustrations were great but at times the characters looked too much a lot. I could only tell the difference in some images by the point of the ears. Secondly, I think some of the story might have gotten lost in translation. It was either worded strangely or it just seemed like parts were missing. In some areas of the story, it felt like it jumped around and left me hanging. For example: when they were doing the competitions, they hyped up the leg race and we didn't even get to see it in action. We only got to know what place they got. I would have loved to see that scene. Overall, the banter was funny, and i loved the characters. If there is ever another volume, I would love to read it.

I mean... it is pretty much exactly what I expected when I downloaded it. It is fun, cozy, and a very quick read for a night when you have nothing else to do. I like it, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to others unless they have very specific tastes.