Here
and
Now

kuchikomi

Seniors sparking new demand at love hotels

37 Comments

"Love hotels are inexpensive, and can be used from around noon," says the man, in his mid-60s. "It's a good place for a couple to spend time together without worrying about running into somebody they know.

"But these days many of the hotels post staff at their front desk. At my age, I feel a little embarrassed, and would prefer not to have to confront them face to face."

Love hotels, reports Shukan Post (Nov 9) are attracting growing numbers of seniors of late. The term "love hotel" came into vogue in the early 1970s. Prior to that, they were referred to rather negatively as "tsurekomi yado" (inveigle inns) and it was this change in nomenclature, perhaps, that helped to popularize the hotels among the members of the postwar baby boom generation, who are now in their 60s.

"Looking at what's going on, I'd say that today's seniors are extremely active in terms of love and sex," the aforementioned gentleman adds. "Fortunately they receive social security pensions, and after retirement they have plenty of time on their hands. While engaging in volunteer activities or attending dance classes, many of them are able to hook up with willing partners."

Akira Ikoma, editor of a magazine covering the "pink" trade, tells the magazine that in areas of the capital with large numbers of seniors, perhaps more than half of all love hotel patrons who summon "delivery health" sex workers to their rooms may be aged 60 or over.

"There are 'deri-heru' that restrict their clientele to customers over age 60," Ikoma adds. "I suppose the demand at love hotels for such customers will also increase in the future."

The article raises one interesting question: While some hotels offer seniors discounts, why are most silver patrons apparently disinclined to request a break on the rates? Is it because they are reluctant to show ID with proof of their age?

Apparently it's a matter of pride more than anything else.

"Being reminded that you're old is a turnoff," says one man in his late 60s. "So even though I've used the same place regularly for some time now, I've never asked for their senior's discount."

The Hotel California Kaminarimon, in Tokyo's Asakusa district, completed renovations last July. Kunihiko Kawashima, president of the company that operates the hotel, talks about changes he made to make it more hospitable for the silver trade.

"We've put handrails on the walls by the steps, and also set up machines in the guest rooms so customers can pay without having to deal with a person at the front desk. From customer questionnaire surveys, this feature appears to be very popular."

Hiromi Shimano, operator of another hotel chain, says to attract the older generation they now pipe in background music from the Showa period (1926-1989) and show nostalgic "Nikkatsu Roman Porno" and "Tora-san" films on the cable TV.

"In one hotel we have 19 Western-style rooms and 4 tatami rooms," says Shimano. "In the latter we placed objects like a hibachi or ceramic pig holding mosquito coils, to give a more nostalgic image."

Actually in some hotels with many elderly customers, staff will escort them to the door of their room to keep them from getting confused. And they'll also show them how to operate the remote controller on the entertainment unit in the room. In the winter they also offer room service that includes hot dishes like "nabe" (stews), which are likely to please seniors.

Well aware that older people are still resistant to newfangled digital gadgets, many hotels still stick with analog technologies, such as back-lit wall panels in the lobbies where the rooms can be selected by pressing a button.

"Operators are likely to keep adopting all kinds of thing to attract seniors, and I suppose competition for this age segment is likely to heat up," says Takanobu Yumoto, who puts out a trade publication aimed at love hotel operators.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

37 Comments
Login to comment

Actually in some hotels with many elderly customers, staff will escort them to the door of their room to keep them from getting confused.

I bet Hell is like this.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

I hope when I am that age I still have the spice for life like that fellow does.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Well.... this was quite the read over my cornflakes this morning.

Glad to know the oldies are still having a good time.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

so that's why i don't see grandmama so often nowadays!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

To paraphrase Captain Brackett from South Pacific: I myself am over sixty and, I do not, by any means, consider myself th-r-rough.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Go Viagra!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Well, at least somebody has to! seems the old is more interested in sex than the young ones nowadays.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The Hotel California Kaminarimon, in Tokyo’s Asakusa district

Can the oldies ever leave?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Dear Writer: When you use "inveigle" and "nomenclature" in the same freaking sentence, do you really expect us to understand what it means?

jump@Since anyone who writes about the subject of sex risks criticism by the prudes if readers enjoy it too much, the writer was probably following JT's editorial guidelines.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It ain't over, 'till it's over... -Yogi Berra

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It's extremely naive to think a person is not observed when entering or leaving a love hotel. The lobbies, corridors outside the rooms and parking areas all have security cameras that are monitored on screens in the office. They are also recorded and kept for several days at least before being erased. The media occasionally announces when criminals have been caught this way.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Oh, yeah------!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I just got over freaking out about my parents doing IT regularly....so these folk limp off to a love hotel and do it at SIXTY??....so that means my grandparents are doing it TOO??.....omg omg omg

"my parents doing IT" - - How do you think you entered this world? Have you set a time / age limit on how long people are allowed to love each other and have sexual urges? I hope your children are not as dumb as you to judge you when you are still healthy in your sixties.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Do they have Viagra in the vending machines?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Unless you are really short, no one at the check in/out counter can see your face.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I'm glad the oldies are still kicking it strong

0 ( +3 / -3 )

"ceramic pig holding mosquito coils"

I had one of those! But my piggy was electric and used those pads.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Grampa bought a rubber! - a wild and crazy guy said this.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Actually 'tsurekomi' love hotel is more like a 'take-in' hotel.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I will definitely ask for the senior discount the next time.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Remember the Love Boat? We all need love regardless of age. Sex makes the world go round, even when there is snow on the mountain there is still fire in the furnace. There is nothing wrong with a little bump and grind and a quite place to do it in. Everyone expects that interest in sex ends as you get older. My little Willie just petered out. My little Samantha just don't feel the groove as she used to.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I say good luck to them! Let's just hope their swinging-from-the-chandeleirs lifestyle inspires the youngsters of Japan - many of whom are sadly 40-year-old virgins.

There is actually quite a popular genre of porn in Japan featuring "oldies" - they amply demonstrate that everything is still in "working order". A friend told me.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Father-in-law coming out of love hotel with someone other than wife runs into daughter-in-law coming in with someone other than husband..........day time soap opera plot!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Seniors are getting harder and stronger, thanks to viagra the love potion number 9. He ain't heavy he my brother......

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Bust a nut

or Die Tryin'

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sexually Transmitted Diseases are on the rise among seniors in many Florida retirement communities because they are having unprotected sex. So seniors: Cover up.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They go the "vanilla" love hotels or the more outlandish types? :p

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Yeah, but they're there longer than most couples cuz they got to wait for the meds to wear off...Hate to see gramps walking around Kyobashi pitchin a tent!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

techallOct. 31, 2012 - 07:27PM JST

Father-in-law coming out of love hotel with someone other than wife runs into daughter-in-law coming in with someone other than husband..........day time soap opera plot!

I like it. Soon Mother in Law come with another man and see son come with another woman...Lets move our home to this hotel h ha ha ha ha ..

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Never would have thought a ceramic pig with mosquito coils would be considered to be "setting the mood"...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I just got over freaking out about my parents doing IT regularly....so these folk limp off to a love hotel and do it at SIXTY??....so that means my grandparents are doing it TOO??.....omg omg omg

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I wonder if they have emergency services and ambulances nearby to assist too.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Sounds like old boys are just going there and getting delivery health rather than going there with a woman of like age. This is nothing new, is it?

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

It initially sounsa positive for the randy old folks, but when I read that it seems to be based a lot on the fact that a growing percentage of 'deri-heru' patrons are over 60, the first thing that I thought about was to wonder what kind (or age) of girl is being requested.

Two pensioners still having the affection, energy and stamina for a romp in the hay is great, but some old guy ordering a girl less than half his age doesn't sound so great at all.

Of course, it could be a woman in her 60s getting her health delivered by a strapping young lad in his 20s, in which case, eeeeeewwwww.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Dear Writer: When you use "inveigle" and "nomenclature" in the same freaking sentence, do you really expect us to understand what it means?

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites