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UER Forum > World > Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel (Viewed 2599 times)
Giri Giri 


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Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel
< on 4/6/2021 12:10 AM >
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I'm really enjoying going though my old photos of some of the first urbex sites I ever visited, all in Japan. It's fun to look back and realize the lessons learned. Also wish I would've taken a class or two on photography (still a work in progress many years later).

Anyway, these photos are from a love hotel in Japan. Love hotels are essentially what they sound like... hotels where lovers go to escape for a few hours from the hustle and bustle of the city, their cramped apartments, and sometimes their spouses. The hotels are quite discrete. Think parking lots with curtains and separate elevators going up and down. I went to a few non-abandoned ones myself for novelty's sake, as they are usually themed. Mine were Christmas themed and UFO-themed. Yup.

The photos here aren't super special or from a themed venue. They do, however, showcase one cool element: a vintage pneumatic mail tube system. This particular love hotel was so discrete with its customers that messages and payment were sent via the tube system, just like banks used to do when I was a kid (at least here in the US). I was impressed to find these tubes intact.

Also stumbled across more than one karaoke song book. Karaoke is known to be famous in Japan, of course, but it's also a good way to get in the mood I'm told.

















roue_libre 


Location: Tio'tia:ke / Montréal
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freewheelin'

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Re: Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel
< Reply # 1 on 4/6/2021 1:30 AM >
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That is a pretty cool! Definitely not the kind of place I've ever stumbled upon, with the air tubes and all.

What's the urban exploration scene and culture like in Japan? How does society at large view the phenomenon and the people who partake in it, assuming they're aware of it if the first place? Any serious legal risks, etc.?

It seems that in North America, a lot of people get it, whether they care to admit it or not, or have any curiosity to explore or not. A whole industry exists for the sole purpose of keeping people out of places that often have no use or next to no value, except liability issues.

In Bulgaria, a security guard got on my case for walking over demolished rubble from a torn-down building, which was just a shortcut to a hitching spot out of town.

Him: "You can't be here"
Me: "OK then, see you later"
Him: "No no, wait here, now I have to call my supervisor... blah blah"

Nothing came of it, of course, but sometimes these busybodies want to feel important or justify their paycheck or whatever. I didn't want something so trivial to escalate, especially as I wanted to be over the border into Turkey, that same day.

Sorry, didn't want to veer too far off topic here. Basically, what's the urbex scene like in Japan?





The best time to explore was [however long] ago; the second best time is now.
– Chinese proverb
Giri Giri 


Gender: Female
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Re: Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel
< Reply # 2 on 4/6/2021 6:10 PM >
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Hey!

I think the urbex scene is pretty lax in Japan. That is, people do it but mostly foreigners. There often isn't any security around and if there is, the Japanese police are often unsure of what to do with a foreigner. I hate to say it but it's pretty easy to play "dumb gaijin (foreigner)" and walk away unscathed. People often say to do first, ask for permission/ forgiveness later in Japan and I found that to be so true.

The hardest part is finding good information or resources to scout sites, in English. I speak/ read decent Japanese but that can only get me so far.

There are lots and lots of cool abandoned sites thanks to the economy bubble bursting in the 90's.

Would love to go exploring in Bulgaria/ that region of the world




roue_libre 


Location: Tio'tia:ke / Montréal
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freewheelin'

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Re: Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel
< Reply # 3 on 4/15/2021 2:59 AM >
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Hey!

Thanks a lot for the explanation. This is pretty much how I imagined it: an issue of social conformity, more than any real or imagined fear of getting busted.

Gaijins, by definition, can't be held to every single social norm - and there are many - that locals stringently abide by. Still, it's messed-up if gaijins get away with behaviour that would actually land locals into serious legal trouble (not just social ostracism).

People often say to do first, ask for permission/ forgiveness later in Japan and I found that to be so true.


I came to this conclusion independently, as a kid.
Asking for permission is the best way to get told "No", and then you've just upped the stakes on yourself if you just have to do it regardless and then get busted. If anything, I thought this rule might have applied less in Japan (rather than more), since it's such a conformist society.

It's great to read/see your explorations! Keep it up!




The best time to explore was [however long] ago; the second best time is now.
– Chinese proverb
Giri Giri 


Gender: Female
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Re: Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel
< Reply # 4 on 4/15/2021 6:20 PM >
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There’s a lot of contradictions to my life in Japan. I got pulled aside by police on more than one occasion, just for being a foreigner on the street (okay and once for not having my bike light on). All they did was check my ID but it was a annoying, regular occurrence that had nothing to do with urbex.




MysteriousExpedition  


Location: Chicago, Illinois
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"Adventure is out there"- Charles Muntz

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Re: Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel
< Reply # 5 on 4/15/2021 7:08 PM >
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Aweome set! One of my goals is to urbex in Japan soon.

How tough are cops in Japan? In China, I think they're known to be very strict about exploring and sometimes even survey bandos with drones. Pretty unfornatunate since there's a whole playground of places to visit in China and I'm guessing in Japan too.




roue_libre 


Location: Tio'tia:ke / Montréal
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freewheelin'

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Re: Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel
< Reply # 6 on 4/15/2021 8:30 PM >
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Posted by Giri Giri
There’s a lot of contradictions to my life in Japan. I got pulled aside by police on more than one occasion, just for being a foreigner on the street (okay and once for not having my bike light on). All they did was check my ID but it was a annoying, regular occurrence that had nothing to do with urbex.


I'll bet there were contradictions, especially if you're not a complete goody-two-shoes! ;) I will never get used to life or travel in places where it's a thing to arbitrarily stop people and check papers on a whim.

One time on a long bus ride across Germany, the bus pulls off the Autobahn in the dead of night and stops at the side of a dark field. Four guys in civilian clothes pile out of a plain grey Volkswagen, board the bus and start checking passports and papers. When it was my turn I asked them for their papers, since they had no uniform, badges or anything on display. The guy complied ("Jah, sicher") and showed my his ID: Bundespolizei, sure enough. Western privilege soon had me and the bus back on its way, but I think one person got pulled off the bus that time.

Can you imagine the stress of knowing you can be snatched up randomly or at least checked at any time, anywhere? Well, I guess if you're latinx in the southern U.S., you might know the feeling. Feels so unjust.







The best time to explore was [however long] ago; the second best time is now.
– Chinese proverb
Ruins-the-Moment 


Location: Fremont, CA (East Bay Area)
Gender: Male w/ Female Bits
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Sometimes you just need to do something crazy to feel alive

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Re: Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel
< Reply # 7 on 4/30/2021 7:12 AM >
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Oh man, I'm legit jealous. I've been over to Japan twice and both times I was just a bit too hesitant to try and do any urbexing despite seeing so many places I could have done so.

Worried just - you know, don't want to not be able to come back. I do have the Abandoned Japan book and I'm just ugh.

This is so cool. I'm just hoping I can find some places whenever I do get to go back - only thing stopping me atm is just the COVID stuff.




Giri Giri 


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Re: Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel
< Reply # 8 on 5/4/2021 6:45 PM >
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Posted by Ruins-the-Moment
Oh man, I'm legit jealous. I've been over to Japan twice and both times I was just a bit too hesitant to try and do any urbexing despite seeing so many places I could have done so.

Worried just - you know, don't want to not be able to come back. I do have the Abandoned Japan book and I'm just ugh.

This is so cool. I'm just hoping I can find some places whenever I do get to go back - only thing stopping me atm is just the COVID stuff.


Oooh I should look up that book. And yeah, don’t worry so much. It helps being a foreigner who can play dumb. I can’t wait to get back to Japan as well. Usually go every year with work and hit up places whenever the itinerary takes me! When you go, let me know!




DuckSauce 


Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Re: Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel
< Reply # 9 on 5/23/2021 7:21 AM >
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Nice!
What a great spot. I've never heard of such establishments until now...
Thanks for sharing!




Don't slip in poo!
Ruins-the-Moment 


Location: Fremont, CA (East Bay Area)
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Sometimes you just need to do something crazy to feel alive

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Re: Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel
< Reply # 10 on 1/11/2022 7:48 PM >
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Posted by Giri Giri


Oooh I should look up that book. And yeah, don’t worry so much. It helps being a foreigner who can play dumb. I can’t wait to get back to Japan as well. Usually go every year with work and hit up places whenever the itinerary takes me! When you go, let me know!


Really hoping to actually go in Dec this year, as long as COVID doesn't slap that away once again.





Ruins-the-Moment 


Location: Fremont, CA (East Bay Area)
Gender: Male w/ Female Bits
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Sometimes you just need to do something crazy to feel alive

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Re: Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel
< Reply # 11 on 12/8/2022 10:07 AM >
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Aaaand actually going to be in Japan on Dec 26th!

Guess I should at least make a thread to see if there's anyone around




UER Forum > World > Another vintage Japan urbex visit-- love hotel (Viewed 2599 times)


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