A Japanese tourist claims she was raped by a Thai masseur who 'thought she wanted a happy ending'.

The young woman said she visited the Tong Ou massage shop along Khao San Road in Bangkok, Thailand, with her Chinese boyfriend on February 5, but was taken to a separate area where she removed her clothes.

A male Thai worker then entered and gave her a rubdown with oil but allegedly inserted his finger into her vagina during the service.

The shocked customer said she called the police following the massage but they failed to arrive. She then walked to the nearby Chana Songkhram Police Station around 500 metres away from the parlor to file a report.

The holidaymaker, who has now returned to Japan, said: 'The female store manager even smirked and asked me to demonstrate how I was assaulted. She said it was part of the service.'

The Japanese woman spoke of the alleged ordeal three months after the incident because she claims the Thai police - notorious for their chronic corruption - allegedly failed to act on her complaint.

Writing online, the woman said: 'The idea that if something goes wrong, you should call the police only works in the developed world. Even if you are raped or killed, you are responsible for yourself.

'I will never forget what happened there. Thailand is such a wonderful country and I hope that things will change so that future travelers can have a safer and more enjoyable time.'

She said that on the day of the incident, she waited for two hours but police did not arrive at the scene so she was forced to take the masseur to the station herself.

She further claimed that officers did not question the masseur in her presence and that he began shouting at her after being interrogated. The shop owner also allegedly defended the employee.

Police yesterday, June 13, visited the shop to interview the owner, who claimed that the 'happy ending was part of the service'.

Speaking to reporters, Police Colonel Sanong Saengmanee, superintendent of the Chana Songkhram Police, said they were investigating the case with tourist police and Paramait Vithayaruksun, a law consultant from Thailand's Move Forward political party.

Sanong said: 'The police did not overlook the matter. We took immediate action by questioning both parties involved on the night of the incident. We also reviewed the surveillance camera footage and deployed an undercover agent to the parlor for further investigation.'

The accused masseur claimed he was 'performing the usual massage' and did not try to rape the Japanese complainant. He added that the massage area was an open space partitioned only with curtains. He said the woman was taken to the shop's interior area 'for privacy' because the area was crowded.

Another worker who was assigned to massage the alleged victim's boyfriend said the tourist 'did not resist or call for help during the massage'.

Sanong said police had scheduled an appointment with the tourist couple for further questioning before they went on their planned trip to Pattaya. However, they reportedly failed to show up, and it was later discovered they had already returned to Japan.

Officers believe the case may have stemmed from a misunderstanding and 'language barriers', as Thai massage shops are known outlets for sexual services and the country's signature 'happy ending'.

Sanong said: 'Certain massage gestures can be misinterpreted as vulgar. There was also a language barrier because neither the staff nor the couple were fluent in English. Police have not yet processed the charges against the shop as further evidence is required.'

Meanwhile, Paramait Vithayaruksun of the Move Forward party said he has contacted the tourist, but due to her limited English, has scheduled another interview to bring an interpreter.

Authorities said they will warned massage parlour owners in the area 'to improve service standards and implement cautionary measures when male masseurs serve female customers'.