Japan is unique for its industry of ‘love hotels’, which are hotels that cater to couples. You can find love hotels all over Japan and many tourists have become fascinated with them as they are known for having a variety of themed rooms and lavish facilities that stand out from your average hotel.
I recently stumbled upon a different style of a ‘love hotel’ called Water Hotel S, who have set themselves apart by creating an atmosphere that they describe as an ‘adults sanctuary’. While they cater to couples just like any other love hotel, the experience is similar to one that you would get at a luxury spa or retreat and they aim to provide a higher level of customer service.
When you walk through the doors you immediately get the feeling that you have walked into some kind of an oasis. With flowing water and relaxing music, the space provides an instant feeling of calmness. The front desk is located on the second floor where there is also a video display showing a selection of rooms that you can choose from. They also take reservations in advance and you can even reserve in English from the website: Booking.com. There are a number of rooms to choose – from standard sized rooms and suites to their most luxurious the ‘Four Seasons Suite’ which ranges in a nightly stay price from JPY 30,000–JPY 37,000 depending on the day of the week.
Upon checking in, you will be offered a welcome drink of your choice in the lounge area in your private love cubby as you complete the guest form and learn about the hotel and your room. Their ‘Four Seasons Suite’ is quite the experience, designed with relaxing colors in a contemporary style decor. The room is an open plan with a bed area and a lounge area that has a sofa and wide screen HD TV — perfect for watching your choice of the many films they offer on demand in both original language and Japanese. There is even a karaoke system built-in with a significant selection of songs from popular artists from around the world.
The winning features of the room have to be the bathroom and terrace where you can find two Jacuzzi baths: one indoor and the other outdoor. Inside the bathroom, which you will find is larger than most single occupancy apartments in Tokyo, there is a large Jacuzzi bath with several areas for showering, and a steam room. You will find all the amenities that you will need, and they even have a wider selection of additional amenities that can be ordered for a fee. The outdoor terrace has another Jacuzzi bath and a lounge area with reclining chairs to unwind and take in the view.
The hotel also offers room service where you can order from their seasonal menu, which has the freshest ingredients. They offer daily specials and there is also a wide selection of dishes to choose from of the main menu as well. The chef recommends the oysters and grilled lamp chops.
Water Hotel S offers the perfect couples sanctuary for relaxation, which is ideal for a city staycation or as an alternative experience to your standard Tokyo hotels. It is located in the western suburban area of Kunitachi in Tokyo and is best accessed by a five-minute taxi ride or 15-minute walk from Yaho Station on the Nambu Line.
A renowned Japanese hotel critic, Nobuaki Takizawa listed Water Hotel S on his latest publication (pub. March 11, 2018).
