"Unbelievably Messy"... Photos of Room After Chinese Tourists Stayed Spark Uproar on Japanese Social Media

Japanese Guesthouse Reveals Photos of Damaged Room
Online Debate Erupts Over Guest Etiquette

A guesthouse in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, has sparked controversy online after publicly revealing the severely damaged state of a room following a stay by Chinese tourists.

The state of a guesthouse in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, left in disarray after Chinese tourists stayed there. Social media (SNS)

On January 23, a male staff member at a guesthouse in Sapporo posted on social media (SNS), stating, "The room after two young Chinese female tourists checked out was like a garbage dump," along with related photos.

He wrote, "The room was unbelievably messy," adding, "I can't understand how anyone could have lived in such a state."

The photos show a room in disarray, with unorganized towels, empty instant noodle containers, drink bottles, and used tissues scattered about. The bathroom was also littered with used tissues, towels, and various other items.

According to reports, the guesthouse charged additional cleaning fees in accordance with its terms and conditions, but the guests refused to accept this, leading to a dispute on site. The two parties later resolved the issue through discussion, and the staff member who posted the photos deleted all related images.

Before being deleted, the post garnered over 10 million views and quickly spread across Japanese online communities. Some internet users criticized the guests' lack of manners, while others cautioned against excessive generalizations based on nationality.

Meanwhile, ahead of the Lunar New Year, the Chinese government advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan during the holiday period. This reiteration of travel restraint followed comments made in November last year by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding potential intervention in the event of a Taiwan emergency.

On January 26, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated via its official social media account that public safety across Japanese society remains unstable, with frequent illegal and criminal incidents targeting Chinese nationals. The Chinese government also noted, "In some regions, a series of earthquakes have caused casualties, and the Japanese government has issued warnings about the possibility of additional earthquakes."