There is provided a chair-type massage apparatus which, while having a low-height backrest, affords an adequate massage effect without forcing a user to take an uncomfortable position. The chair-type massage apparatus 1 comprises: the seat 2; the base frame 8 for supporting the seat 2 on a floor; the backrest 3 disposed at the rear of the seat 2 for the support of user's back; and the massage section 6 incorporated in the backrest 3, for performing a massage on a user sitting on the seat 2, and further includes the up-and-down means 15 for switchably changing the height of the backrest 3 vertically within a range between the housing position where the lower part of the backrest 3 is stored under the seat 2 and the protruding position where the lower part of the backrest 3 is raised to an upper location.