Simkin: Love Hotels are for people who like giving and receiving. In fact, a good one is like a well-wrapped Christmas present
colourful on the outside, with a surprise or two inside. Instead of a chocolate on the pillow, theres a condom. The antique rickshaw isnt a decoration -- it comes complete with restraints -- and I dont mean seatbelts. The manager has some explaining to do.
Manager: This is a love hotel. There are various rooms, but this is my favourite one. This is the Love and Glove Room.
Simkin: On the boxing-ring bed, you can be knocked up or knocked out, depending on your preference. The room comes complete with a commentary box and a sex toy vending machine. Just to make sure all the senses get a thorough workout, the love and glove room features a sophisticated sound system.
Manager: This is the music channel. This is the English lesson channel and this is the alibi channel.
Simkin: A traffic jam the perfect cover for a cheating husband.
Manager on phone: Hello, I cannot get home tonight and I do not need dinner.
Simkin: Love Hotels are a uniquely Japanese phenomenon -- a collision of the kitsch and kinky.
Woman: It is a place where I can relax and enjoy. When I entered the Cleopatra room I felt as if I was transformed into a person who lived in Cleopatras time. I felt I was an ancient Egyptian.
Simkin: Takako Imafuku is an expert shes even written a guide to the best establishments. We went on a tour, starting in a room dedicated to Japans most popular kids character.
Simkin: Its cute but why?
Takako: I think its because its a popular character for young women. And the pink room makes it cute too but this is an S&M room. [laughs]
Simkin: Apparently the Hello Kitty S&M room is a big hit.Not as popular, though, as this room.
Takako: This is a classroom.
Simkin: Oh so it is!
Takako: I think they play the roles of teacher and student.
Simkin: With costumes!
Takako: With a school uniform costume and a blackboard, they can have a class.
Simkin: Once again, there are special features for those who believe schools should promote discipline.
Takako: I dont understand this.
Guy: More, more! Harder, harder!
Simkin: Competition between Love Hotels is stiff. For room designers, the challenge is to furnish fetish and fantasy and keep the customers coming.
Designer: This is a place to have sex. We have sex with the brain, so things like costumes and the atmosphere created by the surroundings are all important.
Simkin: Costumes are an important part of the experience -- you can order them through room service.
Man: Yoko-chan hurry up, lets go soon.
Simkin: This couple keeps coming back. They say a good sense of rhythm can be crucial.
Manager: This is a love hotel. There are various rooms, but this is my favourite one. This is the Love and Glove Room.
Simkin: On the boxing-ring bed, you can be knocked up or knocked out, depending on your preference. The room comes complete with a commentary box and a sex toy vending machine. Just to make sure all the senses get a thorough workout, the love and glove room features a sophisticated sound system.
Manager: This is the music channel. This is the English lesson channel and this is the alibi channel.
Simkin: A traffic jam the perfect cover for a cheating husband.
Manager on phone: Hello, I cannot get home tonight and I do not need dinner.
Simkin: Love Hotels are a uniquely Japanese phenomenon -- a collision of the kitsch and kinky.
Woman: It is a place where I can relax and enjoy. When I entered the Cleopatra room I felt as if I was transformed into a person who lived in Cleopatras time. I felt I was an ancient Egyptian.
Simkin: Takako Imafuku is an expert shes even written a guide to the best establishments. We went on a tour, starting in a room dedicated to Japans most popular kids character.
Simkin: Its cute but why?
Takako: I think its because its a popular character for young women. And the pink room makes it cute too but this is an S&M room. [laughs]
Simkin: Apparently the Hello Kitty S&M room is a big hit.Not as popular, though, as this room.
Takako: This is a classroom.
Simkin: Oh so it is!
Takako: I think they play the roles of teacher and student.
Simkin: With costumes!
Takako: With a school uniform costume and a blackboard, they can have a class.
Simkin: Once again, there are special features for those who believe schools should promote discipline.
Takako: I dont understand this.
Guy: More, more! Harder, harder!
Simkin: Competition between Love Hotels is stiff. For room designers, the challenge is to furnish fetish and fantasy and keep the customers coming.
Designer: This is a place to have sex. We have sex with the brain, so things like costumes and the atmosphere created by the surroundings are all important.
Simkin: Costumes are an important part of the experience -- you can order them through room service.
Man: Yoko-chan hurry up, lets go soon.
Simkin: This couple keeps coming back. They say a good sense of rhythm can be crucial.