François Prost's photo book, "Love Hotel", captures the colorful and quirky architecture of Japan's love hotels, which he encountered during a 2023 road trip. His photography emphasizes the venues’ ability to evoke romance and fantasy while appealing to a young demographic. Love hotels, numbering between 10,000 and 40,000 across Japan, feature playful aesthetics reminiscent of Disney and often incorporate maritime themes, highlighting cultural and architectural narratives. Prost discusses how his work presents a portrait of Japan through these unique establishments, linking their design to the societal understanding of intimacy and hospitality.
I choose specific types of venues in each country-those with distinct, often kitschy, or roadside architecture-and photograph them across the region with a consistent framing style.
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.
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