The most well know form of Mizushoubai if at all Mizushoubai is Geisha. But these days Mizushoubai consists of Japanese Snack bars and Hostess clubs.
A Snack is similar to a western bar. The difference is that the bartender and other employees are women. Men got there after work and pay a head charge to enter. This is expensive. Prices start at around 2000 yen (About 20 US dollars). This is usually just for one or two hours. Plus you have to pay for what you drink and eat. The key to the Snack is that the female bartender and other workers will strike up conversation and baby the patrons.

The hostess bar is less common and it is a bit more interactive than the Snack. They can be a bit bigger than a Snack to huge like a fancy restaurant. At the Hostess bars men go there to drink and have conversation with a hostess. Again there is a head charge here. It　is more expensive than a Snack. Prices start around 5000 Yen (approximately $50 US) to 10000 Yen (approximately $100) and up. AT the hostess bar the hostess will come and sit with the patron. They will　pour drinks and light the cigarette of the patrons. Most importantly they will try to have some conversation with the patrons. The patrons will buy drinks for these hostess girls. So going to a hostess bar can be very expensive.

Recently there has  been popularity in Host bars. These are the opposite of a Hostess bar. Here Women go to be entertained by men.

There has been some social issues about hostess bars most importantly the about  the treatment and the safety of the women who work at the Hostess bars. As well Hostess bars try to recruit foreign women to come and work for them as well. The Mizushoubai can be dangerous places to work in some areas for some women. However in Japan Snack and hostess bars are there to stay.