Actually, no rocks were included in this foray, but the title somehow fits...
For Aaron's 40th Birthday eve, I saw it only fitting to have a Japanese cultural experience. Not cuisine, Kabuki theater, nor Sumo wrestling...but an excursion to one of the infamous love hotels in Shibuya.
Love Hotels charge by the "rest" (a 3 hour lay-over, no pun intended)
or a "stay" (overnight). They are used by budget travelers who want an inexpensive place to sleep. They are also frequented by the many Japanese who still live with their parents and are not interested in engaging in coital relations under their parent's roof.
Here's Aaron basking in the glow of Hotel Rodin. We chose this hotel because we saw a Japanese couple stride right through the doors, without any hesitation. We considered it as a recommendation of sorts.
Once inside, you can see a panel of room choices. You press the button next to your choice. Then you up to the counter to receive your room key. So as not to embarrass anyone, the counter has an opaque window with a small opening. You cannot see, nor be seen by the attendant (who is usually a matronly Japanese woman, from what I can gather).
Then you go to your room, which has a flashing number so you won't stumble into the wrong room.
Yes, even in a love hotel, one must remove their shoes at the door.
There was an array of zany sex products that you could purchase. Sorry to admit, we did not imbibe in them.
But we did imbibe in the potato chips (remember I was there with my gentleman cowboy,who is quoted as saying, "I do love a chip").
I was happily surprized, as I was envisioning a love hotel as a smoky, seedy sort of place. I was totally wrong. They have yukatas (a light cotton kimono), nice clean bath tubs and showers, music, TV. A good place for a "rest".
Happy Bithday ATM.
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