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Love hotel business booming in Japan

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What a wonderful institution!

8 ( +11 / -4 )

SK Plaza in Shibuya is a favorite of mine...

2 ( +5 / -3 )

only two of the 34 rooms are vacant

I find that it is usually a scam to charge higher rates on the part of the hotels. They lure customers in with signs advertising reasonable rates ("rooms starting at ..."), but invariably once you get into the lobby they pull the old bait and switch routine — all lower priced rooms "occupied," with rooms at much higher rates the only ones available.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

It's a room with endless opportunities. Once in the room, you're in your own private kingdom.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I find the word "booming" a bit exaggerated. People in Japan aren't having much sex, population is aging so the amount of potential customers is shrinking... Around the Uguisudani area, some love hotels have been closing down while others are offering bargain basement prices (overnight for less than 5000 yen). Again, I can't really see what is "booming" here...

6 ( +12 / -6 )

Head out to the 'burbs (Chiba and DaSaitama, comes to mind) and you'll see a lot of these places, along with the quality that is pachinko. While I'm all for people boinking away as much as they want, "Love" hotels give me the creeps. With exception of perhaps Love Hotel Hill in Shibuya, areas around rabuho are always seedy as hell. It feels like a cheap remnants from the '80s.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

"and instantly forget the faces they see."

I doubt that. If you were working there are saw a celebrity or your teacher, or your mother etc, do you think you'd forget?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Who could ask for anything more?!?.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Every other article that I've read that cared to actually post figures has suggested that Japan's love hotels are actually on the decline. One of the reasons mentioned repeatedly has been young people having less spare cash and choosing to make do in Karaoke booths or cars.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I love how he casually says "At this time it will mostly be couples having affairs" lol!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

'Head out to the 'burbs (Chiba and DaSaitama, comes to mind)' The 'burbs' and 'DaSaitama'. Ooh, that urban sophistication always gets me weak at the knees. I'll go to any hotel you like, you silver-tongued devil.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The Mrs. and I have been in a wide array of them. I find love hotels to be a cheaper and better alternative to old and cold ryokans and business hotels with really small overpriced rooms. In the countryside of Kanagawa Prefecture, most are usually large and modern. One of my favorites is near Lake Kawaguchi and it has many amenities you sometimes can't find at regular hotels, like a big screen TV, kitchenette, microwave, extra large bathroom and tub, large living room area, etc. Many Japanese people chuckle sheepishly when I tell them the type of hotel where I stayed on my trip as if something different happens in a love hotel as compared to in a regular hotel.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

I'd be very interested to see this topic explored further in terms of relevance to the average Japanese person. For instance, what are the age demographics of the people who patronize them? What percentage of Japan's overall population has ever been inside a love hotel? (My gut feeling is that the figure would not be all that high.) I noted not long ago, when walking around Uguisudani, that several such hotels posted signs saying they welcomed businessmen or other single travelers for overnight stays. This might suggest that their user base has been diversifying.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Considering the main reason for the existence of these types of establishments, I was surprised to see rooms with gaming consoles, karaoke machines, and other amusement devices ! Like they have nothing else to do while there !

0 ( +2 / -2 )

driven by The Rock a few times but the lady doesn't like 'spooky' stuff....

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As no stranger to love hotels i gotta say that some are almost made for other types of fun. Games,movies,karaoke,etc. I take a girl there for one reason, if she wants to play video games or sing then im outta there!

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

They are a great idea! Should be worldwide!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

GalapagosnoGairaishu, to answer your question I'm not sure how many people have been to love hotels at least once in their lives, but I can tell you it's a completely normal thing to go to them esp if you have a significant other but are not married, because in Japan it is still the norm to live with your parents until you get married - even if you don't get married until well into adulthood - so you don't have a chance for hey hey heeeeey with your gf/bf unless you go to love hotel, or choose a more interesting/difficult route such as back alley, empty stair well, etc.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Hotel First Wood out near Narita is a winner. And any love hotel is agreat cheap option for overnight stay when driving around the Japanese countryside. about 25% of the cost of a business hotel and even less than that compared to ryokan.....

2 ( +3 / -1 )

There are love hotels in Shinjuku, for example, that now offer regular hotels rooms as well as "love hotel" rooms. Friends from Asia found their hotel online, and when I went to meet them at their hotel, I realized it was a love hotel. Now you can't distinguish between the two as its appearance has been toned down.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

As no stranger to love hotels i gotta say that some are almost made for other types of fun. Games,movies,karaoke,etc. I take a girl there for one reason, if she wants to play video games or sing then im outta there!

Girls can multi-task, y'know. Heheheheh

0 ( +2 / -3 )

The only two I've been to have been more like swish hotel rooms with little baskets of condoms and amazing control panels for lighting and music/TV... although the second one also had a karaoke machine for some reason O.o

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I did my best to make a significant contribution to that 4 trillion yen last year.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I think I know that room in the second picture.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

After the headline, I totally was not expecting the encyclopedia entry. In fact, I was expecting some explanation, completely with facts and figures, of why the business is booming.

Silly me.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

First time I ever heard of this stuff. Anyone ever shine an ultraviolet light inside a room? Bet it's yucky.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

The only thing I don't like is that until you pay after your allotted time you're basically stuck in the room. Last time my partner had to phone reception because it looked like they never received the payment. I suppose there are worse places to be locked inside ^_^

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I would never go to any of those ever again. Not only because I believe in having sex with only someone you love and want to spend the rest of your life with, but those places are filthy. And I would never take such person to one of those places. even the good ones were bad. People committed suicide, had affairs, did drugs, all kinds of dark spirits and energy within those places. if you wanna see disney land, go to disney land.

-8 ( +2 / -9 )

Games,movies,karaoke,etc. I take a girl there for one reason, if she wants to play video games or sing then im outta there!

Girls can multi-task, y'know. Heheheheh

It's to take her mind off the sex. All she wants is a kid or three then it's gate down, drawbridge up.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I am a big fan of love hotels. Affordable, immaculately clean, fun, and civilized. An absolute gem of Japanese culture. But in America, you just don't have these kinds of things--for a number of reasons. People have more personal space in their homes, for one. There's also a more Puritanical approach to sex in the States, which keeps "love hotels" confined to seedy highway rest-stop motels and the like. It's really too bad.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I was surprised to see rooms with gaming consoles, karaoke machines, and other amusement devices ! Like they have nothing else to do while there !

Dude it is called foreplay.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

They are not having much sex with their own partners but they probably do with their close friends.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I would never go to any of those ever again. ...those places are filthy.

I have seen a few older ones that were. The majority are not at all. They are probably cleaner than regular hotel rooms, if you bother to shine some UV around and take some biological samples. They are certainly cleaner than the public lavs I am sure you visit rather frequently.

People committed suicide, had affairs, did drugs, all kinds of dark spirits and energy within those places.

You just described a lot of hotel rooms, apartments, classrooms, houses, etc. You might want to consider buying yourself one of those bubbles that people with severe immuno-deficiencies live in.

Not only because I believe in having sex with only someone you love and want to spend the rest of your life with

No law against taking such a person. Good luck finding one with such a negative attitude though. Also, everybody can use a change from the same old, same old. Love hotels can and do put a spark back in the sex lives of those who have chosen the straight and narrow boring path.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

my friends boss`s family owns a love hotel, he was telling her that 2 way mirrors are a common fitting in many love hotel rooms, and he personally would never use a love hotel. if you want to use a love hotel thats fine but dont be suprised if you have a audience while your there. LOL

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Couple of points...

If you're trying to negotiate a lovely Japanese lady into a love hotel, never ever use the words "love hotel". Japanese ladies seem to associate those words with something seedy and sleazy.

The thing to say is" "Let's go somewhere where we can relax and enjoy a private time, just the two of us..."

That seems to be much more effective.

The other point is that many love hotels have "service time" plans during weekday daytime. This means that you can check in for 5 or 6 or more hours for a flat charge. Some of these deals are really good! 6000yen for a nice room from morning to early evening! Some hotels even have service time plans at the weekend.

I think a really nice day off is to meet the lovely lady for a morning coffee and sandwich, go shopping for wine, beer, snacks, sushi, whatever and then spend all day together in the room. Bring a dvd to watch too. Days spent like this have been among the happiest of my life... :-)

2 ( +3 / -1 )

My first experience was in Misawa my first japanese girlfriend took me. I was amassed at the heart shaped bed and the shower with a see through window to the bedroom. They definitely need them im the states.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I took a call girl to a love hotel one time. Very discreet and convenient!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

funny how the same JT publishes news on how little sex there is in japan, polls asserting that nobody wants it anymore because it's too much trouble, or people are too shy, and now you have love hotels bursting with couples queuing for days to get a chance to have an affair, some sex on the side, because they can't get enough at home. all this news is bullshit. people, japanese included, all they can think about is sex, and this is a good thing! ex is the most important thing in the world, even for the japanese, regardless of the other stories in JT that nobody does it any more here.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Love hotels are one of Japan's greatest inventions.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"If you're trying to negotiate a lovely Japanese lady into a love hotel, never ever use the words "love hotel". Japanese ladies seem to associate those words with something seedy and sleazy.

The thing to say is" "Let's go somewhere where we can relax and enjoy a private time, just the two of us..."

@Choiwaruyaji: I am sure you mean well and you had some success with this line. But is it just me, or do the majority of these women ALL think the same way. Its like if you say a pattern or phrase that works, or read a manual, you can use that same line to pretty much gather them all!! or if you are at a bar with some friends and laughing and having a good time, they will pop their head in. But if you are alone and just to yourself having a beer, they don't want to talk - Its like they are ALL the same person!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Isn´t that article a little out of date? You will have to look hard to find those crazy "theme" love hotels these days. Most the current ones, at least in Tokyo, just try to be nice and stylish. And yes, love hotels are a great institution!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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