Kyoto Guesthouse Under Fire for War Crimes Pledge Policy for Israeli Guests
Kyoto, Japan – A guesthouse in Kyoto, WIND VILLA, has drawn attention after requiring guests to sign a pledge stating they have not committed war crimes, prompting a complaint from Israel’s ambassador to Japan, Gilad Cohen. The policy, introduced approximately six months ago, has sparked debate following an incident in April 2025 involving an Israeli tourist.
According to WIND VILLA owner Ace Kishi, the pledge was implemented in response to global conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Israeli military actions in Gaza. Kishi stated the measure aims to ensure guest safety and express opposition to war crimes. The pledge applies to guests from countries including Israel, Russia, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Mali, Myanmar, Palestine, Syria, and Sudan, identified by the guesthouse as potentially linked to such violations.
In April, an Israeli tourist, who has not been publicly named, was asked to sign the pledge upon arrival. The guest, a former combat medic in the Israeli navy reserves, signed the document but reported the incident to Israeli media outlet Ynet News, describing the request as a condition for check-in. He stated he signed to avoid issues, asserting that neither he nor Israeli soldiers commit war crimes.
Deeply concerned by the discriminatory incident that took place in April at Wind Villa guesthouse in Kyoto, where an Israeli tourist was asked to sign a declaration stating he had not committed war crimes.
This is a blatant act of discrimination against Israeli citizens and an…
— Gilad Cohen ️ (@GiladCohen_) May 10, 2025
Ambassador Cohen criticized the policy as discriminatory in a post on X, calling it an attempt to equate Israeli citizens with war criminals. He urged Kyoto authorities to address the issue, emphasizing Japan’s reputation for hospitality. Kyoto tourism officials investigated WIND VILLA but found no violation of Japan’s Hotel Act, which governs public accommodations. A city official, quoted by The Japan Times, described the pledge as “inappropriate” but noted it was not illegal.
Kishi defended the policy, stating that only four guests—three Israelis and one Russian—have signed the pledge so far. He noted that most guests have not objected, though some appeared confused. Following the April incident, Kishi revised the pledge’s wording to clarify it does not affect eligibility to stay at the guesthouse. He also issued a public letter to Cohen explaining the policy’s scope.
The incident led Booking.com to temporarily suspend WIND VILLA’s account for further investigation, citing its stance against discrimination. Kishi confirmed the Israeli guest had booked through Expedia.com, and the guesthouse’s accounts on other platforms, including Expedia, remain active.
On April 28, our guesthouse was suddenly suspended by https://t.co/ALza8eLJ8e without any prior inquiry, just three days after receiving a letter from the Israeli Ambassador.
However, the Israeli guest in question had used a different booking site, not https://t.co/ALza8eLJ8e. pic.twitter.com/t9Z2OJ3ghF— Guesthouse WIND VILLA (@WindVilla) May 1, 2025
This case follows a similar incident in Kyoto in 2024, when a hotel refused an Israeli guest accommodation due to perceived ties to Israel’s actions in Gaza. The hotel received warnings from the city for violating regulations, and Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa called such refusals “unacceptable,” stressing the importance of welcoming all visitors.
Kyoto authorities and the Israeli embassy in Tokyo did not respond to requests for comment. The situation continues to raise questions about balancing individual policies with Japan’s commitment to inclusive tourism.
