Four Japanese tourists have apologised for allegedly trying to take upskirt photos of a hairdresser in Thailand.

The group reportedly harassed Kanokkarn Sriworakul, 34, by lifting her dress while she was giving a haircut at her salon in Pattaya.

The incident was caught on CCTV footage, which showed two Japanese men trying to take upskirt photos with their phones while Kanokkarn was busy snipping away at their friend's hair.

She was visibly irritated but completed the service as the pair were heard snickering. She later shouted at the tourists, vowing to report them for their behaviour.

The furious shop owner, who spoke publicly to the media and did not want to be anonymous, filed a report with the local police, who detained the holidaymakers at their hotel on October 21.

Police Lieutenant Anirut Jehroh said: ‘We have charged them with Section 388 of the Criminal Code. This states that any person who performs such a disgraceful act in public by undressing himself, exhibiting his undressed person or committing any other act of obscenity shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 5,000 baht'.

‘Since this case was a petty offence, the penalty is limited to a fine only.

‘The tourists expressed their intention to meet the victim to apologise in person.'

Footage shows the Japanese men meekly listening to Kanokkarn's sermon at the police station before bowing and saying sorry to her.

Kanokkarn later confirmed she had accepted their apology and compensation, saying: 'They have already apologised and said that they did it because they were drunk.

‘The police helped settle with them, and they paid the compensation as settlement money.

‘Actually, I did not intend for the matter to go viral, but I initially posted it because I was extremely angry and wanted to tell them that they could not do this to Thai people.

‘Thai people like Japanese people. Since I opened this shop, Japanese customers have always been good to me. This was the first time I met Japanese people like these.

‘After the news went viral, I received a lot of DMs from Japanese people, apologising on their behalf.

‘They told me that Thai people are very kind to the Japanese, and I felt sorry for them for ruining the great reputation of the Japanese.'