"Japanese Language Required for Stay" Korean Tourists Denied Accommodation at Japanese Hotels

Korean YouTuber Denied Accommodation Despite Receiving Reservation and Approval Emails
Hotel Apologizes for "Lack of Staff Training"

A Korean YouTuber traveling in Japan was refused accommodation at a hotel he had booked in advance because he "could not speak Japanese."

[Photo by YouTuber Kkuzun, captured from video screen]

The YouTuber 'Kkuzun,' who has over 60,000 subscribers, recently uploaded a video on his channel documenting his 1,800 km kickboard trip from Fukuoka to Sapporo in Japan over 113 days. On the second day of his trip, he visited a region called Ube. He described the booked accommodation as "a unique place," explaining, "It is a capsule hotel with a bathhouse attached, a lodging facility I had never experienced before."

When the YouTuber arrived at the hotel and said in English, "I have a reservation," a hotel staff member asked in Japanese, "Do you speak Japanese?" When the YouTuber replied, "No," another staff member appeared and, speaking in Korean, asked, "Can you speak Japanese?" and added, "If you cannot speak Japanese..." before refusing accommodation.

The YouTuber requested through a phone translator, "It is late, and I have nowhere to stay, so please let me stay. If there is a problem, I can use a translator." However, a male staff member, presumed to be a manager, appeared and asked, "Have you ever used a Japanese bathhouse?" and "Do you know about Japanese customs?" before finally stating, "If you do not know Japanese language and customs, you cannot stay."

The YouTuber had made the reservation online and had received a confirmation email approving it. He expressed his disbelief, saying, "To come all this way and then be told to leave is just not right."

As the video spread, local Japanese netizens also expressed embarrassment as fellow Japanese, saying, "I am ashamed as a Japanese," "I was surprised that such a hotel exists," and "Refusing accommodation should never happen." Some netizens pointed out, "If the reason is anti-Korean sentiment, it is regrettable, but if it is to avoid trouble, the reservation site should emphasize this in the precautions."

[Photo by Hotel's apology statement excerpt]

After the incident became public, the hotel posted an apology on its homepage. The hotel stated, "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to customers regarding the refusal of accommodation to foreigners who do not speak Japanese," adding, "We should not have refused guests and should have provided lodging. Due to insufficient staff training, inappropriate responses occurred." They further added, "We take this matter seriously and will work to prevent recurrence so that such incidents do not happen again."