It’s been a rather slow-ho-ho year of explorations, definitely quality over quantity, but that doesn’t prevent me from posting the annual Abandoned Kansai Christmas tradition – a spectacular abandoned love hotel. Or in this case – my favorite remaining love hotel with a special surprise on top!
Exploring the love hotel Flower actually dates back more than six years, after I had a look at two other locations in the area. At the time the place was virtually unknown and easily accessible, but not easy to explore as inside it was as dark as a black steer’s tookus on a moonless prairie night – you basically entered the 2.5 storey building (ground floor for parking, two floors with rooms, rooftop) via one of two staircases that were connected by large circular hallways with rooms to the outside – so no windows in the hallways, only in the rooms. And most rooms were pitch black, too, so you had to find the blinders of a window and open it.
The majority of the very short-term rentals were in good condition, but rather unspectacular. High quality, but not very original or exotic… except for maybe the ceilings. Each staircase though was connected to a premium room. One featured a really nice sheltered “outdoorish” area, the other had an exit to the roof of the building… with a rather large pool! No hot tub or something like that, a real pool, maybe 2.5 by 8 meters. (Sorry, Americans, I have no idea how large that is in Fahrenheit…) With a rather stunning mountain view, when you ignored the electricity lines on the other side of the building! It was seriously impressive. Must have been quite a treat to experience that location in its glory (hole) days.
Over the years I’ve been to dozens of (abandoned) *love hotels*, but this one was the only one with a rooftop pool – which pushed the location from very good to spectacular. Apparently it was opened in the early 90s, towards the end of the real estate bubble, and was in business for about 20 years. Its rather remote location was probably the hotel’s downfall, but one man’s trash (hotel) is another man’s treasure.
Merry XXX-Mas everyone!
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Those are some fantastic pics I was so excited when I got the email about the new post 👍🏻
Thank you very much for your kind words, Kelly!
I hope winter break allows me to do some writing ahead of time, articles that I can publish next year. (I actually have two or three pices on hold, the time is just not right for them yet…)
Happy holidays and all the best for 2024!
cool :D. thats quite a solind burn in on that tv hahaha.
happy new year 😉
Another great exploration Florian. I’m still constantly amazed at what the Japanese will just walk away from. Wife and I are off to Japan in late March … being tourists (sorry!) This is a trip I’ve owed the wife from 2011 (the great tsunami stuffed that one). We are getting right away from the big cities this time though. Well apart from (for her) Sakura viewing on Kyushu. Then we’ll do a week along the Nakasendo Way, followed by some more days here and there.
Have a wonderful trip, Jeff! And maybe brush up your rusty Chinese, because that’s all you hear in certain parts of Zipangu these days… This isn’t your 2011 Japan anymore. 😦