Love Hotel

All this talk about Japan and hotels has me thinking of another peculiarly Japanese phenomenon: the love hotel. Yes, you read that right. The politest way to describe these things is as hotels that would generally have an hourly rate. They’re weird places. And yet, some tourists love to visit them. After all, they’re clean, affordable, spacious (as opposed to Japanese capsule hotels, where you basically sleep in a coffin), and certainly interesting.

In keeping with the Japanese idea that it’s only dishonorable if someone catches you at it, love hotels are completely anonymous. Your license plate is hidden when you park outside, and you never see the people who take your money, bring room service, etc. Most love hotels have themes. Some are distinctly weird (for example, you may find yourself in a classroom with a bed, complimentary schoolgirl costumes included). Others are just really nice hotels that happen to be... for love.

At any rate, if you’re looking for a bit of a laugh and a cheap place to stay, you might want to think about finding one of these places. After all, who will ever know?