Safety Concerns for Accommodation in Japan: Hostel Owner Drugged and Sexually Assaulted Multiple Female Guests

As a frequent traveler, accommodation has always been a very important part of my trips. Whether luxurious or budget, each offers me different kinds of enjoyment. But recently, a news story made me doubt the safety of accommodation in Japan.

According to Japanese media reports, the owner of a hostel in Okayama Prefecture, “Cafe & Guest House Tsukiya,” a 49-year-old suspect named Toshiharu Takeuchi, allegedly drugged a lone female guest, rendering her unconscious, and then sexually assaulted her. Even more surprising, the female guest did not realize she had been violated and even stayed at the hostel again the same year.

Moreover, a police search found a large number of videos and photos of female guests taken secretly at the hostel, suspected to be related to multiple sexual assault and harassment cases.

The sexual assault suspect’s Instagram

As a travel enthusiast, I had always believed Japan was a safe country. However, this news story made people doubt the safety of accommodation in Japan.

When choosing accommodation, we often consider factors such as room price, location, and facilities, but do we consider the safety of the lodging? Especially in a country that many Taiwanese consider (at least on the surface) absolutely safe.

This news story is like a wake-up call, reminding us not to be careless and to be more cautious when choosing accommodation.

How to Find a Safe Accommodation Environment?

First, we should look for rooms through qualified hotel booking platforms (such as HotelsCombine), where the system operator will conduct a preliminary review of the hotel’s background.

Next, we can learn about the hotel’s reputation by searching online reviews, which will help us assess the hotel’s safety.

When checking into a hotel, we should notice whether there are any cameras or other photographic devices in the room. If any suspicious items are found, they should be reported to the hotel manager or police immediately.

In addition, we should avoid going out alone at night, and female friends in particular should pay attention to their own safety.

If you need to go out, it is best to seek help from hotel staff, such as arranging a taxi. At the same time, we should also pay attention to our food and drink safety, trying to avoid drinking alcohol or beverages of unknown origin.

Also, when you enter the room, make sure the door is locked, and do not casually open gifts or drinks sent by strangers. If you find yourself feeling unusual or unwell, be sure to notify hotel staff or local police in a crowded place promptly and seek assistance.

It Can Happen Anywhere

As a traveler who has long explored countries around the world, we need to recognize that such cases are not isolated but can exist anywhere, and can happen even in countries reputed to be safe or at well-known hotels. Just like the impermanence of life, we can never predict whether there are people harboring malice.

As travelers, no matter where we go, even in places you think are very safe, we need to stay vigilant and strengthen our self-protection awareness.

Choosing legitimate hotels, hostels, or inns, making sure the room door is locked, not casually opening gifts or drinks sent by strangers, and always paying attention to your own safety—these are the basic protective awareness for ensuring travel safety, no matter how much you trust the local hotel and local people.

Japan is a beautiful country with rich culture and scenery. We should not lose our love and passion for Japan because of individual incidents, but at the same time we should not ignore such safety hazards. As travelers, we should remain cautious and vigilant to make our trips more wonderful and safe.

References

1. Accommodation search and booking: hotels, inns, hotel rooms, B&Bs, youth hostels