In pictures: Tokyo love hotels

Tokyo love hotels range from huge, neon-lit faux castles located at busy motorway intersections to shabby concrete boxes in city backstreets. Photograph: Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Freelance

The hotels are used by couples looking to add novelty value to their love life or simply spend time away from their cramped apartments. Photograph: Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Freelance

An estimated 2 million Japanese visit a love hotel every day. Photograph: Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Freelance

Innocent human interaction is kept to a minimum to spare the blushes of the guests, who often include those having extramarital affairs. Photograph: Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Freelance

With their impressive occupancy rates and relatively low operating and start-up costs, Japan's love hotel industry generates annual sales worth more than the entire UK hotel industry. Photograph: Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Freelance

Many of the 8,000 seedier hotels are gradually being replaced by more respectable establishments thanks to a 1985 law that bans the construction of new hotels with an overtly sexual theme. Photograph: Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Freelance

Cash transactions can be completed by machine or via a booth designed to allow guests and receptionist to avoid eye contact. Photograph: Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Freelance

These days, any newly built or refurbished hotel is more likely have karaoke machines and wide-screen TVs than revolving beds and fur-lined handcuffs.. Photograph: Justin McCurry Photograph: Justin McCurry/Freelance

A fruit machine is one of the attractions of this room Photograph: Justin McCurry/Freelance