Mick Hartley

Photographer François Prost went on a road trip round Japan to capture the colourful kitschy facades of love hotels:

“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,” Prost says. “It’s why some of these places have an almost ‘Disney-like’ aesthetic, playful yet carefully curated.” Estimates of how many love hotels dot Japan range from 10,000 to 40,000.

[Photos © François Prost]