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What do you think of love hotels?

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Speaking of kids, wouldn't Love Hotels be a perfect reason to start a conversation about the birds and the bees and safe sex whenever kids are ready to be educated ?

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What do I think of love hotels?

Fantastic. If someone gave me a bunch of free coupons I would be there all the time with my wife.

Truly!

I don't think they should be near schools though, and it's going to be interesting explaining to kids what they are - they stand out when driving along the freeways. Pretty hard to ignore.

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Zybster:

Happily married, no need for them.

Even better, you could add even more spice to the relation :)

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Burakumin desu:

" I love them. Probably the most under-rated and misunderstood aspect of modern Japan. My wife and I go to them sometimes for a break - more often before we were married. Damn, some of them throw in food and beers "

Haven`t seen free food yet, but there is one in Gotanda that has a drink bar (including a self-service draft beer tap) in the lobby. Grab a beer on the way up to your room, or have several, if you have to wait in the lobby, until a room is vacant. (And they have cozy little corners for that purpose.) Now THAT is customer service.

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Love hotels came into existence during the latter part of the Edo period. The Edo period ran from 1603 to 1868. Back then they were called deai chaya. The couples back then used it for the same purpose as now. Since Japan has strict zoning laws, they are kept far away from schools now. Even Gadhafi of Libya was using revolving beds which were ordered from Japan. This came public when the USA bombed Tripoli back in 1986 and the pictures came out from the press.

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We also got an Aland Hotel over in Kichijoji, just round the corner from the Hotel New York(yes the ones with the statue of liberty on the roof).

But prefer the ones on the south-side, there is a biiig one just outside the station and a few smaller ones around Inokashira-Koen.

One of my friends also had a wife that refused to go to a LH, so he had to tell his kids don't come home if a clock is displayed in a certain window, etc. Remind me of stories from Dorms, etc.

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All this talk about love hotels being shady and immoral is all hogwash. I live out in Kumagaya and we have at least 5 scattered throughout the area of my neighborhood. In the area I live, extended families living together is quite common place, so when you want an intimate moment with your spouse, these offer a little affordable resort not too far from home. My wife and I frequent them from time to time and find nothing at all shady about them. Most of the couples we see there are our neighbors though, so it can be a little bit embarrassing. LOL All in all, I am for them...even if some, on occassion, are used for other activites. I say, keep them available for those of us who enjoy our little special moments with our special someone.

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frungy:

" Of course I did get some curious looks checking in on my own, but according to the cashier at the front desk I'm not unique in going to love hotels alone, and younger Japanese businessmen have been doing it for quite some time. "

For a male to check in alone is not unusual, as many "hotel health" escort services operate that way. They ask you to book in to a LH, then send the girl you ordered there. I am thinking they were looking strangely at you because you arrived with your suitcase...

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freedomski:

" Like Imacat mentioned already: can't use the words "love hotel" directly. It was the cause I never been to one.... yet ! But I'm worried I won't get her going unless I blindfold her on the way to one of them. "

The marketing guys have picked up on that point too! Some of them make a point of not calling themselves love hotel. For example, just outside Ebisu Station, there is a billboard advertising a "designer hotel" called Aland. Nice place, too. And fully automated, i.e. no embarrassing talk with a reception person. Check-in and check-out is fully automated. Maybe an option for missus freedomski?

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freedomski.

Ask her gently that you would like to try one(her choice of course). Like I pointed out there are good for a one-night stay on a weekend-trip to other towns, etc. ;)

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Thanks WilliB and others for the tips about how to check them out. It's been already lot's of fun research so far. Next move will be to get the misses on board. I can tell you that in itself will be quite a difficult operation.

In our younger days, whenever I asked her to try one out she always came up with a reason not go. So we never went :( Well after being married for almost 2 decades it's time to spice up our relationship.

Like Imacat mentioned already: can't use the words "love hotel" directly. It was the cause I never been to one.... yet ! But I'm worried I won't get her going unless I blindfold her on the way to one of them.

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Good for the occasional date, nice private place to rest with plenty of amenities, not to mention a BIG spacious room instead of those big name hotel closets.

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love 'em

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I wish we had at least one cool love hotel from Tokyo, here in Toronto.

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realist:

" Love Hotels are one of the outward signs of a sad society. "

Absolutely not! They are one of the outward signs of a realistic, pragmatic, and happy society.

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Love Hotels are one of the outward signs of a sad society.

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imacat:

" I'm afraid you're wrong. You probably don't have any chance to go to love hotels in person so just check the home page: google emperor meguro to find it. "

LOL, so your information you share here comes from google?? OK, maybe the Emperor has been renamed back. I know for sure it changed ownership some time ago. Quite a landmark that one, too.

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only people who cant get a girl to take to a love hotel are against them. why pay for a hotel when u can spank it at home?

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Not enough Love Hotels on the Chuo line! The Odakyu line rocks! Need to do your thing, get off at Machida station and boy oh boy! One of these hotels even serves you free cakes and coffee, tea etc..while you wait for your room!

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Love hotels aren't just for seedy and questionable things, if you go to decent ones they are very nice and clean and I think they are good to have since it is very hard in Japan to have complete privacy for some people. Many people still live with their parents even after marriage as it is tradition in some areas like Nagoya for the first or only son to live with his parents forever even if he is married.

If you want to be intimate with your girlfriend or wife and don't have your own home or apartment then Love Hotels are perfect for that you just have to research which ones to go to and it's also good to research the area you plan on moving to as well before moving there.

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And you always have to ask for the extra free time. Never have missed that.

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I love love hotels. So posh and state of the art for everything. Full food delivery, and the outfits you can rent are a plus. They are nothing like sleazy sex motels in America.

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@ spot: The message is clear, Make love, not war.

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I was totally surprised and, somehow, a terribly morbidly bit amused to see a love hotel directly across the street from the Nagasaki Ground Zero Memorial park! It had the car park curtain, etc. Somebody correct me if I was wrong in my observation. I don't think so, but, of course, I could be wrong. Holy Cow! Is nothing sacred? Japanese culture. It never lets you down.

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Not too expensive and you could get more amenities than a 4 or even 5 stars hotel. Love the Asian concept (Bali, Thai, etc.) ones.

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Only problem with staying at a love-hotel is that they 'stay/night' rate is often only available after 23:00/11:00pm. If you go earlier they might hit you for the 2hr rate + the stay-rate.

Frungy is right many salary-man use Love-Hotels when they work late or miss their train. Hit the Combini/100-Yen shop buy a fresh pair of socks, under-pants, etc and you are good to go for another business-day next morning and more rested than from a business-hotel.

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DentShop at 09:59 PM JST - 2nd March Love hotels are rad. I dont understand how business hotels can be tiny, cramped, old, boring rooms and love hotel rooms can be cheaper, cleaner, more interesting and bigger.

I was travelling recently and decided to stay at a love hotel... yes, alone. I was reconciled to paying 1000 yen more per night for the larger room, better room service and all the super Mario bros I could stand... but I got a member card, got a discount, plus a further discount for staying for 2 days, and it ended up cheaper than what I would have paid for a tiny business hotel room.

Seriously, why would anyone voluntarily pay more for less space, less convenience and less stuff?

Yes, there are lousy little love hotels out there, but there are also lousy business hotels. Mostly when I travel I end up in a big city and there the love hotels are superb, and the nice thing about love hotels is that they never expect you to book, you can walk in, take a look around and if you don't like it then walk out and try the next one. Other hotels on the other hand want you to book and get quite snotty if you try to cancel and some even have the bad manners to demand a deposit, even if their facilities are clearly lousy.

Of course I did get some curious looks checking in on my own, but according to the cashier at the front desk I'm not unique in going to love hotels alone, and younger Japanese businessmen have been doing it for quite some time.

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But now on the countryside, it is very different: there is an area with about a dozen hotels,drive-inns etc, but about half of them are closed down

This is why in my earlier posts I've been speaking against love hotels.. I must admit some of those ones in Tokyo look really nice - we have nothing like that here out in the boondocks - just decrepit buildings with huge neon signs and weird names.

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Apart from the fact that love hotels are an excellent way for young couples who live with their parents, to find their privacy, I thinks it's a great way of fun and stimulation.

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It provides a service, so I think it it's fine. As many have posted, your situation at home may preclude intimate relations without drawing an unwanted audience. The ones that prosper will be the ones that provide the best value for the money. In Seawolf's case, the half that had closed down apparently did not provide the best value for that town. Cheaper hotels have to cut corners in more amenities than more expensive hotels. The trick is to find the price-point/amenities-point where your the number of patrons are maximized. That's true for any business, not just love hotels.

I guess what I'm saying is that the truly "sleazy" love hotels aren't going to be around long because at some point it becomes less sleazy to "do it" in the bushes.

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LoveUSA: "No."

No what?

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Yes, spend a few good nights in them,Yokohama and Tokyo, remember one Sunday morning waiting at the Yamanote line Uguisudani, dozens of couples, all back from the same f@ night, but with very different memories LOL! But now on the countryside, it is very different: there is an area with about a dozen hotels,drive-inns etc, but about half of them are closed down, maybe young people nowadays move out of there parents home earlier than 20 years ago. The problem is that they don't get teared down, there is one on a back road, totally overgrown, graffity on the walls, guess already more than 10 years like that. And next to it the forest is for sale for housing, but who would like to have that kind of front view?!

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Love hotels are rad. I dont understand how business hotels can be tiny, cramped, old, boring rooms and love hotel rooms can be cheaper, cleaner, more interesting and bigger. Usually get a free beer thrown in too. You can kick back in the spa, play some Mario and then get down to business and film the act for posterity. All those who are whinging about love hotels obviously aren't frequenting them as much as a gentleman such as myself.

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fantastic! ^^

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For those asking, there are indeed sites that list a lot of love hotels. You can even check which amenities they have. But they're in Japanese. Just google "rabuhosagasu" in Japanese and you should find a few sites. I don't know of any particular ones with reviews.

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I think they are great. They come in really handy when you decide to travel during a busy holiday very last minute and everything else is booked. Sometimes you will have to wait a little while, but once you get a room it usually beats the lack of luxeries that business hotels supply. But I do think that the best way to go about it is to splurge a little...cheap love hotels look (and smell) nasty (;- ;)

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the Meguro Emperor has long been renamed into something else... seems your last visit was a long time ago

I'm afraid you're wrong. You probably don't have any chance to go to love hotels in person so just check the home page: google emperor meguro to find it.

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Oh, and also don't mention you have a membership card. ^o^

Bwhahahahaha! Got cought with that a few years back. Needless to say, I never saw her again after that night.

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papasmurf:

" What love hotel is your membership card for? I've got one for the Hotel Emperor in Meguro (short walk from Meguro station)... very nice love hotel which I can recommend "

The membership card is for getting a discount, of course. Not different from the cards you get from your supermarket. And the Meguro Emperor has long been renamed into something else... seems your last visit was a long time ago.

freedomski: All love hotels I have ever been to show photos of the rooms in the entrance, so you can see what you get. For more info, just ask the guy at the counter hole.

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Generally good to great experiences for me. It's convenient for couples who live with in-laws, like me (I'm paying off their loan).

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@ papasmurf

haha brilliant lmao

What love hotel is your membership card for? I've got one for the Hotel Emperor in Meguro (short walk from Meguro station)... very nice love hotel which I can recommend

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Oh, and also don't mention you have a membership card. ^o^

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Imacat is 100% correct about the need to word it correctly.

So that's why the "Fancy a shag at the love hotel? I've got discount coupons!" line never worked for me... never too late to learn I guess...

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As was said don't get the food that they provide, get a pizza, etc delivered or bring your own. For the shy people(to shop) most love-hotels also offer a selection of "Toys" that can be purchased.

Not sure why so many people are against them. They do offer an important service and like one poster said it beats the backseat of a Beetle and shows the guy cares enough to splash out a bit.

So, yes, maybe they are also used for some suspect activities, most Love-Hotels I know got very strict rules about who can utilize their facilities. Granted there are also some Love-Hotels run by the Yakuza, etc.

For the people that never tried them, do so.

Before my son was born me and my wife often went to Yokohama/Kamakura for the weekend. Saturday afternoon/evening in Chinatown, spend the night at a love-hotel and hit Kamakura/Enoshima early next morning.

Fun Story: Spend my 2nd night in japan at a Love-Hotel with the wife. 1st night we stayed at a friends of hers(Teenie 1k Apartment) next day we found a place of our own but couldn't move in till a day later = stayed at a Love-Hotel.

Imacat is 100% correct about the need to word it correctly. Same for inviting ladies over to your place.

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If you have the opportunity, certainly do spend a whole day at a love hotel. During the daytime they have payment plans usually called "free time" or "service time" or something like that. For a charge of 4000 to 5000 yen you can spend all day in the room, from morning to about 5:00 or 6:00pm.

Meet your partner at 9:00am in Starbucks, then head over to a nice love hotel. Bring some wine, snacks, sandwiches, chocolates, etc. Also bring a DVD of a good recent movie and you are all set up for a wonderful day of love, fun and relaxation, at very reasonable cost.

One thing I have learned is... never ever mention the words "love hotel" to a Japanese lady with whom you're trying to persuade to accompany you to one. Always use euphemisms such as "somewhere where we can spend a private time together" or "somewhere where we can relax together". This seems to be much more acceptable and brings better results. This is particularly true for women in their 30s ~ 40s.

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As some people have already said, great way to take a break with your significant other or if without, your not so significant other. Can't beat the unlimited supply of hot water in the bathrooms, the showers and jet baths that would put most health spas to shame. Oh and did I mention the in room saunas? Most of the newer ones allow you to order out for food as well, so depending on your taste it can be pizza or sushi or whatever on demand. Also now in room internet access and of course the cable porn (soft) feeds. Huge beds with clean starched sheets, mirrors on the ceiling and if you want to be adventurous most have one or two "kinky" rooms as well. So what's not to love?

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The Japanese refer to them as "urban resorts." Hard to beat that.

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great places

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Positive Note: To mannnnyyyy conservative & negative comments

Love Hotels can be a getaway or an romantic getaway from the norm. The Perks:

The hotel offers free condoms. Love Hotels are much larger than my former apartments. The (bathroom) bathtubs are large to accommodate 2 people. Romantic times in the tube !!!!

The food is not great ! ! ! More likely bar food or something to get you full.

The coin operated refrigerator is funny to open and take a peek.

It's fun and adventurous !!!!! I would recommend it for anyone who wants to spice up their marriage or love life.

The negative fun side: Great for identity security, confidential, great for cheating, one night stand, it's great to get dirty once in awhile, fun and exciting at times.

I am totally against child prostitution. I don't approve underage people going to these establishments. What are parent's house for ???? Ohhhh. i think my comment will be taken off by the moderator ohhhh well.

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LOL @ "remains of the day"

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"Damn! There are people in there having a much better time than me."

LOL! Well said.

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there great for gettin' your hump-hump on. especially if the room has been just thoroughly cleaned. nothing kills the amorous mood faster than seeing "the remains of the day". as well, it prevents the stalkers from knowing where you really live.

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Japanese people are practical to distinguish the different hotels, executive hotels for executives that lost the train, capsule hotels for people that only care on sleeping and love hotels for people that only care to make love to someone...

Bad point that I had a "forever alone" status during my trip to Japan and the chances to go to a Love Hotel in order to use it as expected were very few... :(

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I've never been to one. Would like to try though :)

So question for the experienced love-hotel visitors. Is there a good or convenient place to check out what certain love-hotels have to offer ? Are there any review sites ?

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LOVE HOTELS = LOVE ..... PERIOD. So sexy to ride up on a harley with your boyfriend and peruse all the lit up room boards to decide which room is right for you - FUN!!! and you've got to admit some are downright hilarious, like the one in Wakayama shi with a huge Santa Claus on top!

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I love them. Probably the most under-rated and misunderstood aspect of modern Japan. My wife and I go to them sometimes for a break - more often before we were married. Damn, some of them throw in food and beers - much cheaper even than the awful places known as "business hotels" - and a million times more comfortable. Bose Stereos, Massage chairs, rodeo machines, mechanical surfing machines, playstations, big screen TVs...even went to one with a private rooftop onsen! And they even have other attractions the Missus likes...

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Whenever I walk past a love hotel I think:

"Damn! There are people in there having a much better time than me."

It's a thought that encourages me to use them as often as possible with an attractive Japanese lady... and such visits are about the most fun I've ever had.

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Love hotels arent a problem in & of themselves, but I can see where some dont like them due to zoning or rather due to Japans totla lack of zoning laws, which can make for a lot of nasty surroundings

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No.

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Love Hotels ROCK! Ive been to dozens, cause when its time to play hide the sausage there aint nowhere like a love hotel with all its gaudy bawdiness! A LOVE hotel really lets its two participants know just what ia about to take place! I love em! You can also get 30 of your friends and hire one out and farty party! Ive hired one with a small pool..... just get in there and party like its your last day on earth! If you havent been to one yet, GET A LOVER, THEN GET A LIFE! But whatever you do FORGET THE WIFE! Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Love and Kisses, Whitey Rocks!

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Excellent!

Who's going to hook up Ranger Miffy so she can experience love hotels as they are meant to be experienced?

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What do you think of love hotels?

They beat the heck out of the back seat of a VW Beetle!

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Indecent! And yet some decent people including foreign investors made tons of money out of them.

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They're great (as long as they're clean)

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I wish there was a "National Love Hotel Rating System" in place, so that you knew what you are getting before you hand over the cash. Some are real dumps.

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"They are great places to escape to...total privacy..."

Well, 'cept for that one out Shinjuku west exit behind Excelsior cafe. Walls are so thin in that cat house that you feel like all your neighbors are auditioning for narration of an AV anime flick in your living room

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Who thinks up the names of these hotels...they alwys make me laugh 555 gogogo! They are great places to escape to...total privacy...no kids-inlaws-neighbours..fantastic, taking the missus this weekend lol.

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I plead the 5th..............no comment.

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And PC stores ARE for nerds and geeks.

LOL!!

papasmurfinjapan, I'm not feeling you on your ideas of love hotels, however, I like your sense of humor (^^)

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Love-Hotels are great for when you miss the last train.

Stays are at a good price, they offer way more on comforts and amenities than a business hotel which usually cost more.

And when you go with a partner you get uninterrupted private time and don't need to worry about the noise/s you make or the neighbours.

As Cleo and others said they are also nice for a one-night stay at a town before you move on.

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I wish I had someone to enjoy them with, frankly...

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Depends who you go with!

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One more thing

I think you are raising your son at wrong part of town! don't like it? move! end of story!

I love getting advice from someone who I'm pretty sure has no clue about Okayama, nor what part of the city I live in. Thanks.

We are all from different parts of the world so I'd be interested to see what it is like in other peoples home countries, but where I am from adult stores or really anything related to sex is usually relegated to specific sections of the town.

Here (in Okayama at least) it doesn't matter what part of the town you are in, love hotels, vending machines selling porn, and sex shops are found everywhere. Next to the adult shop where I live is a Mercedes Benz dealer. Next to the love hotel is a Home Center... Now some may think this openness towards sex is a healthy thing, but personally I'd don't want it in my face all the time. It's not that I'm against it - as Cleo says, it has it's place in society - I just don't think it needs to be SO open. I believe sex should be discreet - not in your face. So yes, I guess maybe I am a prude...

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LOL! That's funny. Stereotyping at it's best.

Um I don't recall saying that everyone that uses love hotels are shady people. Hardly a stereotype.

And PC stores ARE for nerds and geeks.

I'm not asking for them to be banned - I want them put into non-residential areas that don't affect the value of the surrounding land.

Take a detour, old timer!

I'm probably younger than you nisegaijin. Just because I have different moral ideals to you doesn't mean I'm an old fart.

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love the jet tubs! preferable to the tiny business class hotels in japan.

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There is so much variation in quality they need to be inspected! I entered one on my way to Niigata and it looked like a haunted building, dirty and spooky! I got scared and left as soon as I could! On the other hand, some have the best facilities you need for a short rest and are so convenient. Their location also needs to be controlled because in some parts of the city they are such a mismatch! In short, the love hotel needs to be regulated better...

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My experience at one was great. :-)

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Only the prudes want them banned, every city / town should have atleast half a dozen love hotels.

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I think they're the Greatest thing since sliced bread! The couples that use them,Need them!! Whats better than total privacy -No Kids,NO nosy neighbors & No interuptions! Moralists be damned,inside they're really only jealous of Free Spirits!

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Love Hotels are great. They have more amenities than the Hilton. I use them quite a lot when travelling, simply because it is fun staying at them. Some of them are a bit annoying when it comes to staying there with the same sex.

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That's like saying PC stores are magnets for nerds.

...They aren't?

:-)

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Do not associate love hotels with people of questionable character. As Cleo pointed out, normal people use them frequently as well for the aforementioned reasons. Also as pointed earlier, they do not sell sex, just provide the place.

I think some people confuse the love hotels in Japan with the seedy establishments found in US or Europe.

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They are both a magnet for people of questionable character.

LOL! That's funny. Stereotyping at it's best. That's like saying PC stores are magnets for nerds. Try visiting one with your lover, it does wonders for me and my wife to change up the scenery once in a while in stead of the normal boring bedroom routine.

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I have to pass 2 love hotels, 3 pachinkos and 1 adult store just to take my son to the bus stop for kindergarten

Take a detour, old timer! This is land of the free. if they own property and want to have pachinko, love hotel, or frigging pig farm on there, they have the right to do so!

I think you are raising your son at wrong part of town! don't like it? move! end of story!

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Anyway, what's the moral issue people are on about? not like they are selling sex, just providing a place for people to have it. Have people got a problem with "Make Out Point" and similar necking places that are in public in the US?

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I can understand papasmurf's problem of having to walk his son past them, but love hotels do play a social role. There are still couples forced to share cramped accommodation with too many family members for them to have any privacy (granted, not as many as in the past), and for them a love hotel is a godsend.

Also in this land where everyone takes their holidays at the same time and 'real' hotels need to be booked weeks or even months in advance, if you suddenly find yourself with a few free days and the yen to travel when everywhere is booked up, love hotels are a pretty good alternative. You don't have to be of questionable character to use them! (Honest!)

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Love 'em.

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I read once in one of these newspapers that love hotels were invented to stop people having sex outdoors, so I don't like them!

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I'm agaisnt for moral reasons!

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Love hotels have been in urban Japan since the 1950's emerged in the late 1950's following a ban of licensed prostituion by SCAP after the occupation of Japan, then were extremely popular in the 1970's and legislated against in the 1980's are now perceived as leisure fashion or boutique hotels. The love hotel is a unique typology and its spacial, aesthetic, semiotic, and locational denotations and connotations is a important era in Japanese social and cultural history. I'm not into love hotels but the key in finding the right one is one that strike's one fancy according to my guy friends. Now don't quibble over the semantics. You can choose your own interpretation.

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What do love hotels have to do do with pachinko?

They are both a magnet for people of questionable character.

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@Papigiulio

I agree. After a bit more thought, I guess I should clarify my statement. I have no problem with Love Hotels in specified zones (Red Light Districts or even downtown I suppose is okay). What I am against is love hotels in the suburbs, which is quite common here in Okayama.

I have to pass 2 love hotels, 3 pachinkos and 1 adult store just to take my son to the bus stop for kindergarten - and this is supposed to be a family friendly part of town. I'm not a prude, but I find the existence of these stores in places populated by young families with kids morally questionable.

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Zybster, me to man! say no more. What do love hotels have to do do with pachinko? Gamble perhaps? Two lovely kids later! and a wonderful wife!

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papsmurfinjapan, it really depends on the location and what type. Ive heard there are some REALLY good and classy ones. But agree completely with you on the pachinko part. These should all GO.

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I'm against them to be honest. Those who think they are only used by young couples who only want a bit of privacy to do their thing are extremely naive. As chotto says, love hotels are not only for "love".

Let me put the question to you this way, if you had a family and home here, would you be happy if a love hotel was built nearby? Most people would answer no, and not surprisingly it will also decrease the value of your house.

Love hotels, along with pachinko are a cancer, at least where I live. I don't know about Tokyo's upscale ones though - and perhaps downtown in a restricted area they are fine. Here they are spread out around the suburbs.

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Happily married, no need for them.

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never been :( But then again I always go to the normal hotels, way more classy.

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Very good idea. I do not about the ones in other cities but the ones I have seen in Tokyo were immaculately clean.

Interesting to note that foreign private equity groups are buying them out for investment actually. They are naming them "Leisure Hotels" so that they look good on the books.

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Love Hotels are great, wish they were more available outside Japan.

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...but also can be very, very dodgy / seedy / used for lots of bad stuff.

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Good idea! ;-)

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Wish I was at one right now with a young hottie.

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