mytest
Hi Blog. As a matter of record, here is a notification I received from a reader last year regarding the Tourist Information Fukushima website, an official prefectural government site, which offered information about sights and stays in the area. They allowed — even publicized — hotels that expressly refused accommodation to NJ guests (I called a few of them to confirm, and yes, they don’t want NJ guests due to the owner’s own classic fears — language barriers, no Western beds, a fear that NJ might steal, or noncommunication in case of emergency or trouble). As the emails I received from TIF later on indicate (it took them some time to get back to me), they have since instructed the hotels that what they are doing is in violation of hotel laws, and have corrected the TIF website to remove the option of refusing foreigners.
Thanks, I guess. Now why a government agency felt like offering hotels an exclusionary option in the first place is a bit stupefying.
Given October 2008’s GOJ hotel survey indicating that 27% of respondents didn’t want NJ staying on their premises, this may be but the tip of the iceberg. Arudou Debito in Sapporo
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From: TH
Subject: Fukushima – discriminatory hotels
Date: September 12, 2007 7:36:54 PM JST
To: debito@debito.org
Hi Debito,
A friend told me about Fukushima Prefecture’s English tourism website, which bizarrely lists 142 hotels and categories for them including “Acceptance of foreigners” and “Admittance of foreigners.” I don’t understand the difference between the two categories, but many hotels have one or both of these categories checked. The accommodation website is
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/subCategory.do?areaID=all&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
I looked at all 142 accommodations listed on the website. The 35 listed below bar foreigners in one or both of the above categories.
I think this kind of categorization is completely unacceptable, even for a rural area like Fukushima.
I was also wondering whether you might be willing to look into this. I think you would be the best person given your tact and expertise.
Please let me know what you think.
Cheers,
Tim
Hotel & Ristorante Irregarro
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=11&areaID=1&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Tawaraya
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=124&areaID=3&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Nihon Kanko Hotel
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=23&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Iseya
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=30&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Higenoie
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=31&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Yamaneya
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=33&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Tamagoyu, Inc.
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=37&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Anahara Hot Spring Izumiya
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=43&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Kajikaso
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=55&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Oku-tsuchiyu Hot Spring, Hotel Kotaki
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=65&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Guesthouse Tanno
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=118&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Fukushima
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=119&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Matsukawa Masuya Hotel
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=127&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Shinobuso
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=128&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Fukushima Green Palece
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=133&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
The Garden Hotel Shokeien
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=45&areaID=5&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Koshi Highland Fujiya Hotel
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=84&areaID=7&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Wafutei Morinoyu
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=90&areaID=9&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Resort Hotel Yuzuru
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=123&areaID=9&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Guesthouse Yamari
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=140&areaID=9&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Minatoya
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=143&areaID=9&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Fujiya
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=19&areaID=2&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Business Hotel Denen
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=97&areaID=2&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Business Hotel Orient
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=104&areaID=2&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Nakanoyu
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=136&areaID=2&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Oshima
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=17&areaID=4&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Mizuho Hotel
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=20&areaID=6&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Atamiso
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=64&areaID=6&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Horai
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=102&areaID=6&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Teneitou
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=141&areaID=6&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Kagamiishi Daiichi Hotel Kagamiishikan
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=120&areaID=6&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Toraya Shinkan
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=21&areaID=8&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Hotel Kashiwa
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=69&areaID=8&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Spa Hotel Sumirekan
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=87&areaID=8&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
Tamayama Hot Spring Fujiya Hotel
http://www.tif.ne.jp/eng/details.do?code=144&areaID=8&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=24
ENDS
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From: Arudou Debito
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From: rfs01@tif.ne.jp
Subject: Re: 有道 出人より転送します。Fukushima – discriminatory hotels
Date: September 14, 2007 10:32:07 AM JST
To: debito@debito.org
Cc: gasc@tif.ne.jp
あるどう でびと様
Subject: 調査状況について（中間報告）
Date: October 1, 2007 2:49:25 PM JST
To: debito@debito.org
このたびは、外国人宿泊の件に関しましてご教示をいただきありがとうございます。
調査に関する現在の状況でございますが、各旅館・ホテルに対しまして、個別に電話で確認を
いたしております。その状況からは「あえて外国人を排除するようなことは行っていない。」との回答が多くなっております。
従いまして、ホームページに×となって掲載された経緯、「質問項目の内容」まで含めて現在確認作業を行っております。
今しばらくお時間をいただければ幸いです。取り急ぎご報告まで。
（福島県観光連盟 総務情報担当 齊藤）
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From: gasc@tif.ne.jp
Subject: 当ホームページにおける外国人宿泊可否表示について
Date: September 14, 2007 5:26:58 PM JST
To: debito@debito.org
ほんものの旅 オーダーメード うつくしま。
社団法人 福島県観光連盟
【総務・情報課長】 齊藤登
Ph 024-521-3812 fax024-521-3811
E-mail gasc@tif.ne.jp
http://www.tif.ne.jp
東京上野「サテライトショップふくしま」ＯＰＥＮ
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From: gasc@tif.ne.jp （福島県観光連盟 総務・情報課長 齊藤登）
Subject: 当ホームページにおける外国人宿泊可否表示に関する件（ご回答）
Date: October 22, 2007 7:35:30 PM JST
To: debito@debito.org
有道出人様
このたびは、福島県観光連盟英語ホームページの「ＳＴＡＹ」「外国人受け入れ」に関する項目に関しご指摘をいただきましてありがとうございます。
項目において×になっている３５の旅館・ホテルに対しまして直接電話により確認を行いましたが、その結果は次のとおりです。
● 外国人を拒否するようなことはまったくしていない。２４軒
● 外国人を拒否してはいないが、英語ができる人がいないので、外国人を積極的には受け入れていない。８軒
● 廃業や連絡とれず ３軒
（計３５軒）
この結果では、外国人を拒否するようなことはまったくしていない、２４軒と大変項目が多くなっておりますが、これは、当方からの調査の際「外国人の受け入れ」という質問項目であったため、「今まで外国人を受け入れた経験がない（極めて少ない）」旅館・ホテルさんが勘違いし×と記入されたものと思われます。これは当方からの質問の仕方が中途半端な面があったと反省しております。また、「拒否はしていないが、積極的に受け入れてもいない。」とする旅館・ホテルが計８軒ございましたので、念のため当旅館・ホテルにつきましては、旅館業法第５条の趣旨を説明いたしましてご理解をいただきました。
以上のような状況と対応をいたしましたのでご報告させていただきますとともに、調査・表示にあたりまして、行き違いがございましたことにお詫びを申し上げます。
今後とも福島県の観光振興にご協力を賜りますようお願い申し上げます。
（福島県観光連盟 総務・情報課長 齊藤登）
ENDS
5 comments on “Fukushima Prefectural Tourist Information Association lists “No Foreigner” hotels on their official website, 2007”
Debito-san, I’m actively involved in updating Nagano Prefecture’s foreign language tourism website. Needless to say, we won’t be using TIF’s as an example. From Hakuba on down, I’ve only had favorable responses when talking with others in the tourism industry about Inbound (guests from overseas).
Signed,
Tyler in Foreigner-Friendly Nagano
–For the record, a hotel in Nagano City proper tried to refuse me entry in November 1997 just months before the 1998 Olympics. Their excuse: They didn’t have Western beds. I told them that I’ve slept on a futon for the better part of a decade. I also told them (since other hotels were full that day, according to the tourist info desk I was talking to) if they didn’t give me a room, I would make sure the tourist board would hear that they were refusing NJ, and their reputation would suffer on the eve of becoming a city inviting the whole world for sporting events. They gave me my room, with apologies.
Debito-san,
Give me the name of that hotel — I’ll personally go and keblonk them on the head.
Signed,
Tyler in Foreigner-Friendly (Sometimes) Nagano
–This was ten years ago, don’t remember, sorry. Anyway, they let me in. Debito.
I have just had a look through some of these hotel links and can not for the life of me find where it says no gaijin…
Also I would like to say I have stayed at a couple of these places and although they were shocked to see a NJ getting of a motorbike and asking for a last minute booking they did not give me any trouble… even accepted my drivers license as ID without question.
Maybe the bike helps me break some barriers…
In all my travels (about 140,000km in 7 yrs) and 14 yrs in Japan I have never been refused entry to any hotel or ryokan, and only refused 2 onsen due to my rather large tattoo collection, the managers of which told me quite openly that if they let me in then they have to let Yakuza in too, so they ban all ink. ( but one place had a private bath and were quite happy to let me in there ((very nice place in Nasu)
Usually if I go to an onsen it is the private room type cause I don’t like “oyaji” in my bath with me.(so I can’t really comment on that aspect properly)
I will be on the look out for places that refuse me over the next few months as I travel, this weeks destination; Gunma 🙂 the 3rd most beautiful place on these rocky shores, so far.
Thanks Debito!
You rock.
Hi Debito,
We own a business hotel in Shirakawa (Fukushima pref.)
Our hotel may be small but we are making every effort to be 100% bilingual (Japanese/English) from our website down to every sign inside the hotel. We also offer a choice of a Japanese and English newspaper to our customers.
http://www.sbhotel.jp
— Marvelous! Long may you prosper. Quick note to your sysadmin: Your website crashes my Safari browser program every time…