Think that anime is a very profitable industry in Japan? Well there is an even more profitable business and its the Love Hotels.
According to this research that was cited in Japanese Love Hotels: A Cultural History, a book by Sarah Chaplin, Japanese Love Hotels seem to bank in more than 4 trillion yen of profit per year, which they say is twice the profit of the Japanese anime market.
The book also states that approximately 1% of the Japanese population checks into a love hotel every day, and according to one study, 50% of all Japanese sex occurs in love hotels.
Source: The Japan Times
Does that mean that those 1% of the population are sex-crazed people that really enjoy sex so much that they have to check in to a love hotel everyday? I reckoned that a slight or even significant portion of those 1% that check into the love hotel everyday are actually some homeless people that make use of the cheap rates in love hotel to get a night rest instead.
At the same time, I’m also wondering why would 50% of all Japanese sex occurs in love hotels? I guess those are the short-term mates that one wouldn’t really want to bring home.
Edit: Just saw this on Mainichi Japan, which further shows how love hotel is making money.
Love hotels have become prime targets for investors because they provide high returns with comparatively low risks.
Investors can actually now invest in Love Hotels. LOL In fact I think its rather good investment as well.
“The fund in this series guarantees dividend payouts of at least 8.4 percent over a year,” Global Financial’s Daisuke Kondo tells Dacapo.
Global Financial’s love hotel funds have seen increasing numbers of investors who have been willing to put ever more money into plans to get the shag shacks up and running.
Anyone interested? ^_^
They go to rabuhos because walls are thin in Japan (maybe). Also, many people live with their parents.
Regarding the issue of having sex in a hotel than at home – I once watched this documentary that actually explores sex in Japan, and the topic of Love Hotels was tackled. According to the report, Love Hotels were created to address the issue of lack of privacy for intimate partners, considering that the vast majority of Japanese, at least those living in densely populated cities like Tokyo, live in cheap apartments where walls are thin and noise from the neighbors can ruin the mood. Hence such couples wanting to “do it” without being bothered by the neighbors opt to head to the Love Hotels and enjoy themselves in full privacy.
I think you misunderstood the “1% of the Japanese population checks into a love hotel every day” part. I interpreted it as follows: Wikipedia says that Japan’s population is estimated to be roughly 128 million. 1% of that would be 12,800 people; thus, the study says that roughly 12,800 people use a love hotel every night, but not (necessarily) that it’s always the same 12,800 people.
Oops, I missed three zeros in my number in that last comment. 1% of Japan’s population is twelve million, not twelve thousand >
Due to the high cost of living in Japan, many young people continue to live with their families well into adulthood. Home isn’t exactly an option when it comes to romantic encounters. It’s one of the primary reasons love hotels exist in the first place.
Also, they tend to be located in red light and entertainment districts, the natural habitat of the drunk salaryman looking for love. Japan is all about convenience, after all. Try convincing the girl you picked up to make the two hour train ride out to your apartment in the suburbs (assuming the trains are still running). One of you will be passed out and choking on your own vomit by the time you get there.
. . .
Don’t ask me how I know all this.
Well, remember that some Japanese’s buildings & homes doesn’t have the somewhat thick walls most of us have. Some Japanese traditional homes even lack concrete walls ^^;;;
Plus, having a big house is not possible for everyones wallet. Living in cramped buildings is normal there since there’s not much space.
And… I wouldn’t have wanted to hear my fathers banging all night next door when I was young, do you?
does make sense. many japanese homes are small (esp in the urban areas), walls are too thin, many live with parents or siblings. therefore even married couples use love hotels.
@ Everyone who has commented: This is certainly interesting point of view, thanks for pointing out that house in Japan, especially in the Tokyo portion are densely populated with the thin cheap walls. I think that would certainly be a major factor.
In addtion, its also interesting that Jeff pointed out that some youths still continue to live with their parents after they enter the society. I’m wondering its because of filial piety or they are just simply “parasite youths”. Maybe they are a mixture of both with more leaning to the Shinjinrui parasite youths I guess.
Lol!! That’s actually funny. You can count me in to invest in love hotels!!! haha well…i guess that’s easy money ne. I wouldn’t mind getting easy money, especially if it’s THAT popular and you get THAT much money. I wouldn’t mind at all hahah.
oh!! forget to add one thing! I don’t think you should have kids if you’re an owner of those “popular” hotels…wouldn’t want your daughter to turn into a slut ne! or your son into a Playboy. XD
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Indeed, as others have commented most men don’t have “bachelor pads” that they can bring their dates home to. Love hotels are a happy necessity in Japan.