Travellers now have a luxurious alternative to the often basic accommodation in this beautiful, but remote, area.

They are as Japanese as sushi and kimonos; a cramped but ingenious solution to the problem of finding affordable accommodation in one of the world’s most expensive countries.

They are one of the most striking features of Japanese cities — streets of windowless buildings, adorned with gaudy neon, displaying the cost of rooms rented by the hour. Now the government is on a drive to convert Japan’s “love hotels” into much needed accommodation for tourists.