A dive into 5 of Japan’s wildest Love Hotels

So… what is a love hotel? Love hotels (ラブホテル, also known as boutique or fashion hotels) are hotels that offer double rooms for short periods of time. Typically you can rent a room for a minimum of one to three hours during the day, called a "rest", or for the whole night, called a "stay", which usually starts after 10 pm. As the name suggests, love hotels operate primarily for the purpose of allowing guests privacy for (mostly) sexual activities.

Fun fact: The name “Love Hotel” originates from "Hotel Love" in Osaka, which was built in 1968! While love hotels exist all over the world, the term "love hotel" refers specifically to those located within Japan.

Right off the bat when i think about love hotels i’d think dimly lit rooms, rose petals and hot tubs - pretty PG of me for that’s barely scratching the surface. Now add “hospitals”, sex toys, cosplay costumes, BDSM and UFO - yes UFO. Let’s dive right in!

5. Hotel UFO, Chiba

New to the Chiba area? No problem because you’d probably spot this hotel a mile away. This UFO Love Hotel boosts a total of 24 rooms with room rates starting from ¥2800/1.5 Hours - ¥ 4500/7 Hours. If you manage to book the room online, you may opt to go directly to the room without going through the reception for maximised privacy! 👽

Tip: UFO is pronounced as yufo in Japanese!

*Source: John S Lander via Getty Images*

Address: 1-34-21 Makuharihongo, Hanamigawa-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba
Website: https://www.hotenavi.com/hotel-ufo/

4. Hotel Alpha-In, Tokyo

Now here’s a pre-empt for slight kink shock. This hotel is not for the faint of heart or those without a healthy interest in BDSM. If you need to google what BDSM means, this is not the love hotel you’re looking for.

Hotel Alpha-In is a hotel exclusively designed for BDSM purposes. Each room is fully equipped with whips, collars, ball gags, feather dusters, and blindfolds. Specific rooms are loaded with suspension setups, X, or T shaped bondage frames and S&M chairs. There are also “tools” for sale such as candles, ropes, costumes and sex toys for both genders.

Source: ONI Love Hotels — *Source:* *ONI Love Hotels*

Address: 2-8-3 Higashi-Azabu Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0044
Website: http://www.hotelalphain.com/

3. Hotel Bali An Resort, Tokyo

The Hotel Bali An Resort transports guests to a tropic island getaway! The decorations and interior set up reminds me of Bali - as the name probably suggests; there’s a jungle of plants all around you as you navigate wicker and woven furniture before heading off to Balinese style standard rooms.

Frankly speaking, what drew me in was the aesthetics 360 projected reality at the lounge area while the rooms are somewhat predictable - pretty much lack lustre in comparison.

Source: Booking.com — *Source:* *Booking.com*

Address: 2 Chome-22-10 Kabukicho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0021, Japan
Website: N.A

2. Hotel France, Okayama

Opened in 1984, the interior was designed by the famed Ami Ishin, also known as "Walt Disney in the love hotel world". One of her favourites was inspired by the merry-go-rounds at Disneyland. Over the bed is a circle of lights with dropped ceiling mimicking the trunk of a carousel. On the walls were trims of windows and doors that resembled the style of small-town county fairs. Around the bed were two mechanical horses - and yes, they spin.

Source: Hotel France — *Source:* *Hotel France*

Address: 175 Kōshita, Naka Ward, Okayama, 703-8225
Website: https://www.vivafrance.jp/

1. Snowman’s Hotel, Kobe

I’ve exhausted my googling abilities and have failed to acquire more information regarding this hotel (it might be lost in translation) but i just had to feature this love hotel after i laid eyes on that blue swing and pig tub.

This might be tmi but I tried picturing every single possible scenario as to how the swing can be utilised but nothing quite click - i mean look at how high up it is. Definitely interesting but over my dead body that i’ll be able to make love in this hotel, lowkey giving me kidnapping dungeon vibes. A love making environment amidst surreal cartoon like furnitures and figurines or a playground? You decide.