Japan's Affection for Love Hotels

A narrow street filled with love hotels. (Photo courtesy of Kim Ikkyon.)

A newspaper article from 1930 introducing "enshuku" hotels. (Photo courtesy of Yomiuri Shimbun.)

View of the exterior and interior of a "tsurekomi" inn. A mirror is installed behind a sliding screen to make the room seem more spacious and spice up things a bit. (Photo courtesy of Kim Ikkyon.)

A view of the Meguro Emperor, the first of many love hotels to adopt a castle-shape design. (Photo courtesy of Kim Ikkyon.)

The Shanty Akasaka hotel that opened in 1973, the same year as the Meguro Emperor. Although the design is flashy, the entrance is discreet.