Kyoto Guesthouse Under Scrutiny After Requiring War Crimes Pledge from Guests

A guesthouse in Kyoto has come under pressure from local authorities and international criticism following reports that it asked guests to sign a declaration stating they had never committed war crimes, as per Al Jazeera.

The controversy erupted after an Israeli tourist was asked to sign the form during check-in, prompting Israel’s ambassador to Japan to condemn the policy as discriminatory.

WIND VILLA, a small accommodation in Japan’s historic city of Kyoto, asked guests to affirm they had not participated in war crimes or violations of international law. The policy drew widespread attention in April when an Israeli guest was presented with the form, leading Israeli Ambassador Gilad Cohen to publicly criticize the guesthouse.

Cohen called the requirement “a blatant act of discrimination against Israeli citizens and an unacceptable attempt to equate them with war criminals,” in a post on social media platform X. He urged Kyoto officials to act swiftly, emphasizing that Japan should remain a place where all visitors feel “welcome and safe.”

Despite the backlash and a visit from local tourism authorities, WIND VILLA’s owner, Ace Kishi, has defended the policy. Kishi explained that he implemented the pledge six months ago in response to ongoing international conflicts, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israeli military operations in Gaza.

“I just wanted to take some measures for our safety, and for guest safety as well, and to express our disagreement with war crimes and international violations,” Kishi said.

Kishi noted that only four guests—three Israeli and one Russian—have signed the pledge so far. Most did so without objection, he said, though the Israeli tourist in April appeared confused and upset before ultimately signing. That guest, speaking to Israeli media outlet Ynet News, said he signed the form to avoid conflict, adding, “I have nothing to hide.”

Kyoto city authorities have visited the property multiple times to investigate the matter but have not found WIND VILLA in violation of Japan’s Hotel Business Act. A city official told The Japan Times that while the guesthouse had not broken any laws, the pledge was “inappropriate.”

Kishi has since modified the wording of the pledge to clarify that signing it is not a condition for staying at the guesthouse. He also issued a public letter to Ambassador Cohen, stating that the pledge is not limited to Israeli citizens and has been directed at guests from several conflict-affected countries, including Russia, Syria, Myanmar, and Palestine.

Following the incident, booking platform Booking.com suspended WIND VILLA’s listing pending further investigation. However, the guesthouse remains available through other platforms such as Expedia.

This is not the first time a Kyoto accommodation has faced scrutiny over treatment of Israeli guests. Last year, another hotel reportedly denied an Israeli man a room due to concerns over Israel’s actions in Gaza, prompting warnings from city officials and a public rebuke from Japan’s foreign minister.