François Prost Photographs Quirky Japanese Love Hotels For His New Book

There’s just something about love that makes our eyes light up and our hearts feel gladder. So it’s no wonder that when we behold anything to do with love, those same positive feelings well up within us. Photographer François Prost was on a road trip through Japan, between Tokyo and Shikaku Island in 2023, when he noticed a distinctly unique aspect endemic to the country that he hadn’t seen elsewhere in the world. From rural countryside to urban landscapes, there was a common establishment that was emblematic of Japanese popular culture - the Japanese Love Hotels. These spaces were often intended to offer a Japanese couple privacy they wouldn’t otherwise have in their small homes to engage in amorous activities. These "Love Hotels" offered an extension dedicated to acts of love, safely removed from the demands of family considerations. This was the inspiration for François Prost’s book project, a photographic journey through the facades of Japanese Love Hotels. More info: Instagram | kickstarter.Com

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Born in Lyon, Parin in 1980, François Prost is an award-winning photographer and art director whose work has been published in 5 monographic books and exhibited internationally. He has experience working for editorial and commercial clients, but he is most passionate about photography projects documenting facades of local French nightclubs, machine gun shops in the US, Chinese scooters, or capturing the similarities between European cities and their Chinese replicas.

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During a visit to Japan to promote his ‘Gentlemen’s Club’ series at an exhibition, Prost claims he was encouraged to conceptualise a new project by his gallery. This was when he was naturally drawn to the charismatic veneers of the love hotels situated all across Japan. In a statement, Prost elaborated, ‘Love hotels are a unique and deeply ingrained part of Japanese culture, offering a fascinating glimpse into Japanese society. These venues have a very "talkative" quality visually— they're expressive in their design, reflecting aspects of local culture, values, and even fantasies.” 

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When asked about what led to this particular hobby, Prost explained that he is drawn to photographing distinct and kitschy architecture that speaks to the local flavour of the country he is touring. He revealed, “This allows me to create a portrait of a country through the lens of its vernacular architecture. I’m drawn to the aesthetic of these places, and how their facades reveal something about the people who inhabit or frequent them.”

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The Japanese love hotels have all the aspects he is looking for with their peculiar style as Prost elaborated, “Love hotels are ubiquitous in Japan—estimates suggest anywhere between 10,000 and 40,000 across the country. They are designed to appeal to young people, and as such, many have bold, eye-catching architecture. The venues aim to evoke a sense of romance, escape, and fantasy, yet they also need to feel safe and inviting—not tacky or sordid. It’s why some of these places have an almost "Disney-like" aesthetic, playful yet carefully curated.”

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Over the last decade, things have changed a little, according to Prost, who described how, “Today, many contemporary love hotels are inspired by "Balinese" aesthetics, with bamboo, natural materials, and tropical motifs. It’s a design language that resonates with younger generations. While these venues are still used primarily for romantic encounters, they’ve also become spots for young people to gather, play karaoke, and party, blurring the lines between love hotels and regular entertainment venues.”

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