After an Israeli tour organizer claimed that a lodge company in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture refused to host Israeli tourists for political reasons, Israel’s ambassador to Japan, Gilad Cohen, sent a stern protest letter to Governor Shuichi Abe. In the letter, Cohen emphasized that such refusal constitutes a clear violation of Japan’s Hotel Business Act, which prohibits unjust denial of accommodation based on nationality.
The ambassador further stated that this kind of discrimination goes against the principles of fairness, equality and hospitality that Japan is known for, and harms both Israeli tourists and Japan’s image as an open, safe and respectful travel destination.
In an official response sent to the Israeli Embassy following a thorough inquiry, the Nagano Prefectural Office confirmed that refusal of service based on nationality violates Japanese law and constitutes unacceptable discrimination.
According to the prefecture’s statement, a review of the lodges’ guest records found no evidence of past refusals to host Israelis, and that many Israelis had stayed at the properties in the past. Still, local business owners were given explicit instructions to prevent similar incidents from recurring, and were made aware that denying service based on nationality is a legal offense.
In addition, the company’s management issued a written commitment to maintain a respectful and welcoming environment for all guests, without discrimination.
The Israeli Embassy in Japan noted that the manager involved in the incident is not a Japanese citizen, but emphasized that anyone operating a business in Japan, especially in the tourism sector, is obligated to follow local law and the country's values of equality and hospitality.
“We thank Nagano Prefecture for its in-depth investigation and zero tolerance toward the exclusion of Israeli tourists,” Ambassador Cohen said. “This was an exceptional and rare case in Japan, a country known for its high standards of hospitality and its warm welcome to tourists from around the world, including Israelis."
The incident, which occurred in October, involved an Israeli travel planner who customizes trips to Japan for Israeli clients reached out to Hakuba Lodge Co-op, which operates 17 lodges and ski resorts in Nagano and other regions, to inquire about accommodation options for the upcoming winter.
She received a blunt reply from the manager, named Justin, who wrote: “We have made a business decision not to accept any booking from Israeli citizens going forward. We are not comfortable with what your country has imposed on the people of Palestine, and we do not feel right that you could consider holidaying when people next door don't have anywhere to sleep and are starving. Maybe you could consider originating groups to go and help rebuild Palestine instead of going on an exotic holiday."
The tour operator ended all contact with the company and found an alternate lodging that is more welcoming to Israelis.
The Israeli Embassy stated that Nagano officials responded clearly and decisively, underscoring that there is no room in Japan for nationality-based discrimination and that the law is enforced even in sensitive cases. According to the embassy, the prefecture’s position reflects Japan’s commitment to equality and respectful hospitality.
“Every week, thousands of Israelis travel to Japan, which has become one of the most popular destinations for Israeli tourists,” the ambassador added. “Japan is friendly and welcoming. El Al's direct flights are fully booked, and we hope Japan’s travel advisory for Israel will soon be lifted so Japanese tourists can also visit our beautiful country."