A hotel in Kyoto, Japan, is at the center of a growing diplomatic controversy after requiring an Israeli tourist to sign a declaration affirming he had not committed war crimes during his military service.
The incident, which was first reported by Ynetnews, has drawn sharp criticism from the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo and prompted local Japanese authorities to launch an investigation into the hotel’s conduct.
The tourist, who identified himself as a former combat medic in the Israeli Navy reserves, recounted the incident, stating that the demand came immediately after presenting his Israeli passport at the front desk of the Wind Villa Hotel in Kyoto. “The clerk handed me this form and told me that without signing it, I wouldn’t be allowed to check in,” the man told Ynet.
Details of the Declaration
The document presented to the tourist required a sweeping denial of participation in war crimes, referencing specific violations under international law.
The form included the following language: “I have never been involved in any war crimes in violation of international and humanitarian law, including but not limited to attacks on civilians (children, women, etc.), killing or ill-treatment of those who surrendered or were taken as prisoners of war, torture or inhuman treatment, sexual violence, forced displacement or looting, and other acts falling within the scope of Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).”
The tourist initially refused to sign, expressing a desire to “stay out of politics,” but eventually relented, saying he had “nothing to hide” and wished to avoid further conflict.
Hotel staff reportedly informed the guest that this policy applied to all Israeli and Russian visitors, citing concerns over the ongoing war in Gaza and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Diplomatic fallout and legal scrutiny
The Israeli Ambassador to Japan, Gilad Cohen, formally condemned the incident in a letter addressed to Kyoto Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki, describing the requirement as a “discriminatory act based solely on nationality.”
Following the complaint, the Kyoto city government launched an investigation and stated that the hotel may have violated Japan’s Hotel Business Act, which prohibits discriminatory practices against guests.
“Our position is to provide safe, secure, and high-quality accommodation for citizens and travelers,” a city spokesperson told CNN. “We will respond strictly to situations that do not conform to this.”
A representative from the Israeli Embassy reiterated that the incident does not reflect the broader state of Japan-Israel relations. “We know that this is not characteristic of Japan or its hotel industry,” said Ido Bromberg, political counselor at the embassy. “We view this as a singular incident.”
Second incident raises broader concerns
Separately, a second hotel in Kyoto, Hotel Material, reportedly canceled a reservation made by another Israeli tourist, citing the conflict in Gaza. A message sent to the tourist via WhatsApp read, in part: “We are not able to accept reservations from persons we believe might have ties to the Israeli army.”
The hotel did not respond to multiple requests for comment, but city officials confirmed that this incident also constituted a breach of hospitality regulations. The tourist was able to secure accommodations elsewhere.
Context: Legal action and war crime allegations
The incidents in Kyoto unfold against the backdrop of intensifying scrutiny of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023—which killed over 1,200 people in Israel and led to approximately 250 hostages being taken—Israel has launched a series of military offensives that have, according to Gaza health authorities, resulted in the deaths of over 61,700 Palestinians, including more than 18,000 children.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has since issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. In parallel, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has stated that it finds the charge of genocide against Israel to be “plausible,” although no final ruling has been made.
A recent United Nations inquiry concluded that both Israel and Hamas have committed war crimes during the conflict.
Hotel defends policy as “Safety Measure”
The Wind Villa Hotel manager defended the decision to implement the guest declaration policy, citing fears stemming from the conflict in Gaza. “For us, war is a distant thing, and we have never met people who kill women and children and bomb schools,” he said to Ynet. “Since young Israelis are required to serve in the army, we do not know who may have been involved.”
The manager maintained that the declaration was intended to ensure the safety of hotel staff and guests.
While both Israeli and Japanese officials have attempted to contain the diplomatic fallout, the incidents highlight the complex intersection of global conflicts and international travel, especially as legal proceedings against state leaders unfold on the world stage.
The Israeli Embassy in Tokyo has stated it will not pursue legal action but hopes for a formal apology. Meanwhile, local authorities in Kyoto have pledged to enforce compliance with Japanese hospitality laws and ensure that similar incidents do not recur.