Kyoto, — An Israeli tourist was asked by the Wind Villa Guesthouse in Kyoto, Japan, to sign a declaration denying involvement in war crimes during his military service as a condition for checking in, according to Israeli media outlet Ynetnews. The incident occurred after the tourist presented his Israeli passport at the hotel’s reception.
The tourist, a former combat medic in the Israeli Navy reserves, was handed a form stating he had not committed war crimes, including rape, murder of surrendered individuals, attacks on civilians, torture, sexual violence, forced displacement, or looting, as defined by Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The document further required a pledge to comply with international and humanitarian law and to never engage in war crimes. Initially refusing to sign, the tourist complied after being informed that the policy applied to all Israeli and Russian guests.
Israel’s Ambassador to Japan, Gilad Cohen, sent a letter to Kyoto Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki, condemning the requirement as “unacceptable” and a violation of Japan’s Hotel Business Law, which prohibits discriminatory practices. Cohen described the act as causing “significant emotional distress” to the guest and noted it was not an isolated case, referencing a similar incident in June 2024 when another Kyoto hotel, Material Hotel, canceled an Israeli tourist’s reservation citing alleged ties to the Israeli military.
The hotel manager defended the policy, stating, “War is a distant thing for us, and we have never met people who kill women and children or bomb schools.” The manager argued the declaration was a safety measure due to Israel’s mandatory military service and the ongoing Gaza conflict, which began October 7, 2023. The hotel claimed no laws were violated, noting that a city official had investigated following a complaint from the Israeli Embassy.
Kyoto authorities have launched an investigation into the incident for potential breaches of hotel business regulations. The Israeli Embassy is preparing a response, with Cohen emphasizing that Japanese authorities have previously acted against similar cases and maintain a stance against discrimination. In 2024, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa called a similar refusal of service “unacceptable,” leading to the dismissal of the involved employee at Material Hotel.
The incident occurs amid heightened global scrutiny of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, where the Health Ministry reported over 61,700 Palestinian deaths, including 18,000 children, as of April 2025. Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice and ICC arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Social media reactions are mixed, with some praising the hotel’s stance and others, including Israeli officials, labeling it discriminatory.
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