Documenting Japan’s Most Peculiar Love Hotels
© Francois Prost
In 2023, French photographer Francois Prost made a trip between Tokyo and Shikoku with a mission to document the facades of Japan’s most peculiar love hotels.
Love hotels in Japan originated in the postwar period. In an era when many households had different generations living together in small spaces, a place that offered privacy outside the family home was a welcome escape. However, Japan’s first love hotels looked discreet, with plain facades. It was only from the ’70s, building towards the bubble era, that these flamboyant love hotels made their entrance.
Buildings became themed like castles, ships, UFOs, whales, and whatnot. After the 2000s, exterior restrictions became tighter, but many of these peculiar exteriors are still standing strong.
It’s here that Francois made his stand, documenting the most unique facades he could find, both in the city as well as the countryside.
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