{"id":446919,"date":"2024-12-16T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/?p=446919"},"modified":"2024-12-16T10:54:52","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T16:54:52","slug":"francois-prost-love-hotel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2024\/12\/francois-prost-love-hotel\/","title":{"rendered":"Quirky Facades of Japan&#8217;s Love Hotels Feature in Fran\u00e7ois Prost&#8217;s Vibrant Portraits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-9.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a bright white and blue facade of a castle-themed love hotel in Japan along the roadside\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-9.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-9-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-9-960x960.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-9-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-9-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-9-1536x1536.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All images courtesy of Fran\u00e7ois Prost, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Quirky Facades of Japan&#8217;s Love Hotels Feature in Fran\u00e7ois Prost&#8217;s Vibrant Portraits<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2024-12-16T11:00:00-06:00\">December 16, 2024<\/time><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-books\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"tag\">Books<\/a><a class=\"category-design\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/design\/\" rel=\"tag\">Design<\/a><a class=\"category-photography\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/photography\/\" rel=\"tag\">Photography<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\"><li style=\"color: #1c1e0d; \" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2024%2F12%2Ffrancois-prost-love-hotel%2F&#038;title=Quirky%20Facades%20of%20Japan%27s%20Love%20Hotels%20Feature%20in%20Fran%C3%A7ois%20Prost%27s%20Vibrant%20Portraits\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\">\n\t\t<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \">\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n\n\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d; 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\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Quirky%20Facades%20of%20Japan%27s%20Love%20Hotels%20Feature%20in%20Fran%C3%A7ois%20Prost%27s%20Vibrant%20Portraits&#038;body=Quirky%20Facades%20of%20Japan%27s%20Love%20Hotels%20Feature%20in%20Fran%C3%A7ois%20Prost%27s%20Vibrant%20Portraits%20&mdash;%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2024%2F12%2Ffrancois-prost-love-hotel%2F\" aria-label=\"Email\"  class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\">\n\t\t<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M20,4H4C2.895,4,2,4.895,2,6v12c0,1.105,0.895,2,2,2h16c1.105,0,2-0.895,2-2V6C22,4.895,21.105,4,20,4z M20,8.236l-8,4.882 L4,8.236V6h16V8.236z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \">\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"446919\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\" style=\"\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\" style=\"\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Love hotels are a unique and deeply ingrained part of Japanese culture,&#8221; says photographer <a href=\"http:\/\/francoisprost.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fran\u00e7ois Prost<\/a>. &#8220;These venues have a very &#8216;talkative&#8217; quality visually\u2014they&#8217;re expressive in their design, reflecting aspects of local culture, values, and even fantasies.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During a trip to Japan in 2023, when Prost was exhibiting an earlier series of works called <em>Gentlemen&#8217;s Club <\/em>at a gallery in Tokyo, he embarked on a road trip from the capital city to Shikoku Island in the southeast of the country. With the gallery&#8217;s urging, he undertook a new project while visiting, documenting the facades of love hotels\u2014also sometimes called &#8220;boutique&#8221; or &#8220;fashion&#8221; hotels\u2014that offer rooms at cheap rates for brief stays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-7-960x960.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-446924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-7-960x960.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-7-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-7-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-7-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-7-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-7.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Prost, who is based in Lyon, France, approaches his subjects as features of the landscape that characterize a specific vernacular and highlight quirky or taboo facets of local culture. <em>Gentleman&#8217;s Club,<\/em> for example, documented American strip clubs along a southerly route from Miami to Los Angeles in 2019. He has also sought out Ivorian, French, and Spanish nightclubs in series like <em>After Party <\/em>and <em>discoteca.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I choose specific types of venues in each country\u2014those with distinct, often kitschy or roadside architecture\u2014and photograph them across the region with a consistent framing style,&#8221; Prost says. &#8220;I\u2019m drawn to the aesthetic of these places, and how their facades reveal something about the people who inhabit or frequent them.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His latest series, <em>Love Hotel, <\/em>captures the unmissably colorful designs of roadside lodging, ranging from ships and castles to flowers and a pink whale. &#8220;The venues aim to evoke a sense of romance, escape, and fantasy, yet they also need to feel safe and inviting\u2014not tacky or sordid,&#8221; Prost says. &#8220;It\u2019s why some of these places have an almost &#8216;Disney-like&#8217; aesthetic, playful yet carefully curated.&#8221; Estimates of how many love hotels dot Japan range from 10,000 to 40,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prost has launched a new book for the series on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/projects\/francoisprost-gcb\/love-hotel-the-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kickstarter<\/a> that highlights the creativity and occasional hilarity of these infamous destinations. &#8220;I hope viewers are struck by the incredible attention to detail and devotion to design that defines these spaces in Japan,&#8221; Prost says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can support the book on Kickstarter until January 10, and stay updated by following Prost on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/francoisprost\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>. Explore all of his projects, including more books, on his <a href=\"http:\/\/francoisprost.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-5-960x960.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-446927\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-5-960x960.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-5-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-5-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-5-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-5-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-5.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-14-960x724.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-446939\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-14-960x724.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-14-640x483.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-14-768x579.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-14-1536x1158.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-14.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-1-960x960.jpg\" alt=\"the facade of a love hotel in Japan along the roadside shaped like a giant pink whale\" class=\"wp-image-446920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-1-960x960.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-1-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-1.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-8-960x960.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-446925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-8-960x960.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-8-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-8-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-8-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-8-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-8.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-4-960x960.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-446926\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-4-960x960.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-4-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-4-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-4-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-4-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-4.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-13-960x724.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-446938\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-13-960x724.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-13-640x483.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-13-768x579.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-13-1536x1158.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-13.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-11-960x960.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-446930\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-11-960x960.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-11-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-11-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-11-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-11-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-11.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-3-960x960.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-446922\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-3-960x960.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-3-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-3-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-3-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-3-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-3.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"866\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-12-960x866.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-446937\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-12-960x866.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-12-640x578.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-12-768x693.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-12-1536x1386.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prost-12.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"LOVE HOTEL IN JAPAN - THE BOOK\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bCoNAl0__4k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Lyon-based photographer captures unmissable roadside lodging design on a road trip across Japan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2306,"featured_media":446928,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3059,494,496],"tags":[68,3590,367,141],"class_list":["post-446919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","category-design","category-photography","tag-architecture","tag-francois-prost","tag-hotels","tag-japan"],"acf":{"acf_sponsor_post":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.1 (Yoast SEO v24.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Quirky Facades of Japan&#039;s Love Hotels Feature in Fran\u00e7ois Prost&#039;s Vibrant Portraits &#8212; Colossal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fran\u00e7ois Prost captures the colorful, unmissable design of love hotels in Japan, ranging from ships and 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