Love Hotel
Chambre d'hotel au Japon
©Unsplash
Only in Japan
The Love Hotel is a bona fide institution in Japan, while the concept continues to fascinate beyond the borders of Japan... Frequented by all age groups, for various occasions, and with luxurious or classic rooms, whatever your pleasure, the Love Hotel allows couples a moment of escape for a few hours or the whole night.
A practice rooted in culture.
Rooms devoted to sensual pleasure have existed since the Edo period (1603-1868). Still, after the Second World War and as part of the country's reconstruction, the number of hotels offering reduced occupancy times rooms increased. First of all, these hostels are not intended for couples, but the high demand and a new law that regulates prostitution have pushed the owners to target a new type of clientele.
Love Hotel was adopted after popularizing "Hotel Love," which opened in 1968 in Osaka. Establishments reserved for partners seeking intimacy were developed throughout the country. Going to the Love Hotel has become commonplace over the decades, and the market continues to grow with new concepts designed to satisfy customers' desires.
Young couples still living in the family home, extramarital affairs, and married couples looking for fantasy or one-night stands, the Love Hotel provides Japanese teams with certain comfort at a reasonable price. In a city like Tokyo, where apartments are cramped, a night at the Love Hotel offers the perfect romantic getaway!
There are thousands of Love Hotels in Japan, and there are more than 600 in Tokyo alone. With the lack of accommodation in the capital, it is planned to use some hotels to accommodate tourists in 2020 on the occasion of the Olympic Games.
Everything for the pleasure of lovers
Even the smallest rooms offered at the Love Hotel are over 20m 2, and some can reach 80m 2 ! The bathrooms are equipped with a jacuzzi bath, and many hygiene products are available. Large television with a video-on-demand service, a mini-fridge, tea and coffee-making facilities, and a king-size bed in the room. Condoms are also provided in a small box on the bedside table.
A catalog offering various products is often displayed in the room, and you can sometimes order food from room service. Many services are offered for sale or rental, from cosplay to game consoles to erotic gadgets and phone chargers.
See also: Cosplay in Japan.
Some Love Hotels differ in their decoration. Indeed, between the castle-shaped buildings, the hearts on the facades, and the neon letters, you will inevitably notice them between the city's structures. Those with sober storefronts sometimes contain many secrets, with rooms with various themes (train, school class, hospital, etc.).
Getting to the Love Hotel
To differentiate them from conventional hotels, look at the storefront and the price list often placed at the entrance. The words "Rest" (or 休憩 kyuukei ) and "Stay" (or 宿泊 shukuhaku ) mean that rooms can be rented for just a few hours or the whole night.
You can even consult the rooms' "menu " on a screen where only the unoccupied ones are lit. When booking, there is a good chance that you will not see the receptionist avoid exchanges and embarrassed looks. Sometimes you have to press a button and insert your money to get the room key.
Prices vary depending on the rooms and cost between $20-75, and a whole night can cost from $50 to more than $200, but be sure to find a space for your desires. Also, be aware that prices are higher on weekends.
To go further: Cheap accommodation in Japan.
More and more, Love Hotels are diversifying their services by offering unique "girls' nights" for groups of friends (in the spirit of a pajama party or bachelorette party), treatment packages for couples, and even offers suitable for families.
Often less expensive than a classic hotel but offering very spacious and comfortable rooms, why not try spending a night at the Love Hotel? Even with just one friend, you will be able to discover another facet of Japanese culture.
