Japanese Love Hotels: What Are They and Why Do They Exist?

Aside from art, calligraphy and flower-arranging - Japan is widely known for it’s wildly different and often surreal trends and pop culture. It’s the nation that brings us kinky cartoons, Cat Cafes, and camel-toe underwear, so you probably won’t be surprised to hear that Japanese ‘Love Hotels’ are a thing.

What is a Love Hotel?

The term ‘love hotel’ is a polite term used to describe a type of short-stay hotel, typically found in Japan, to serve specifically as a place for getting one’s groove on. Yep, that’s right - love hotels are built to allow couples the freedom and privacy to enjoy sexual activities together. Some of them even allow you to pay for rooms by the hour! 

While this might seem like a novel concept to some, the idea is not all that revolutionary. The idea of dedicated private spaces for lovemaking started up in the Edo period in the 1950s. This is because Japanese homes were (and sometimes are) designed with sleeping areas doubling as living areas - so it didn’t make getting kinky all that easy; especially if you were sharing with the in-laws!

This need for private spaces designed specifically for sex between consenting adults gave rise to the humble love hotel, and since then thay have become a mainstay of Japanese culture, even if they have been labelled as somewhat of a novelty, especially by us westerners.

But in addition to having a unique purpose, love hotels have a reputation for being a bit quirky and different in terms of their theme and interior design. This uniqueness makes them a ‘must-do’ attraction (excuse the pun) if you’re ever lucky enough to visit

Who Would Use a Japanese Love Hotel?

While you might think that love hotels are nothing more than a quirky tourist attraction, the reality is that around 2.5 million people in Japan use these establishments every single day! They attract people from all walks of life - rich and poor, old and young. 

While their primary use is indeed for sex, that does not mean they are only used for this purpose. Due to the extreme level of privacy they offer, some people book them out simply to be alone, or to host private parties.

Love hotels offer peace and solitude, as well as a place to get kinky - if you so wish. 

Inside a Japanese Love Hotel

If you’re lucky enough to visit a Japanes love hotel, you’ll probably be greeted by quirky or themed decor and often extra facilities - like fancy bathrooms with jacuzzi baths, massage chairs, large TVs with all adult entertainment coming included in the price of your stay. Oh, and of course - WiFi.

Some hotels also offer extra additions to make your stay more memorable - such as disco lighting, karaoke machines (this is Japan, after all), and even vending machines filled with various sex toys to make your stay that little bit extra special.

While some hotels do offer room service, this is not generally a standard feature. Discretion and privacy are the main order of the day - so if you do book to stay in a love hotel, be prepared to be left to your own devices. Some hotels even require you to check in and out using an automated machine, rather than a traditional ‘front desk’, so you can make your stay extra private indeed!

Which Love Hotel To Choose?

There are a number of different love hotels to choose from; ranging from those offering your standard run-of-the-mill hotels rooms, to hotels with a bit of quirk and character. It depends what you are into, but obviously we think the more outlandish the better. 

There is even a specific area that boasts multiple different establishments for you to choose from, the aptly named ‘love hotel hill’ in  Shibuya, Tokyo. Here you’ll find xyz

In celebration of their uniqueness here are our top three Japanese love hotels we think you should check out:

Keep it Kinky at The Alpha In

The Alpha In is probably one of the more well-known Japanese love hotels, probably due to it’s somewhat memorable decor and themed rooms. The Alpha In is more ‘S&M Hotel’ than ‘Love Hotel’. In fact, it has actually been described as ‘the world’s only BDSM hotel’ - and when you look at the rooms, it's easy to see why.

Themed rooms with striking decor - like a sex dungeon with rusted chains hanging from the ceiling, or a medical style room complete with examination chair (with styrups) and white coats for that fully-immersive experience make this hotel the real deal. The Alpha In is for serious customers only!

Feeling Vanilla at Hotel Sara Sweet

If you fancy something a little less extreme - the the Hotel Sara Sweet might be right up your street. With mood lighting, luxury leather furniture (presumably because it’s wipe-clean) and romantic decor, all the rooms have a high-end (if a little ostentatious) feel to them. 

Reviewers of this hotel often state how friendly the staff are, and the food is great (apparently) so you can whet your appetite in more ways than one. Plus with included extras like massage oil, and optional extras like a PS4 console with VR headset, this hotel gives you plenty of bang for your buck (pun intended). 

While these hotels are very much two sides of the same coin, they do give you a little peek into what to expect from Japanese love hotels. Whether you’re more ‘kink’ or totally vanilla - they should be on your list of places to visit if you ever go to Japan!