Israeli Couple Denied Lodging Abroad After Host Refuses ‘Guests From Israel’

After they listed Israel as their country of residence, the host abruptly canceled the stay.

By United with Israel Staff

An Israeli couple planning a long-awaited vacation to Japan said they were stunned after a guesthouse owner in the Japanese Alps canceled their reservation once he learned they were Israeli, according to reports in N12 News and Israel Hayom.

Vered and Oren Deitch of Rishon LeZion had hoped to stay in a small, traditional minshuku in the village of Tsumago, a scenic stop along the historic Nakasendo trail that once linked Kyoto and Tokyo.

The Kiso Valley region is a major destination for hikers, and overnight stays in traditional inns are considered part of the classic experience.

The couple said the booking initially progressed normally. They were asked to fill out a short form with their details, and the reservation was approved. But after they listed Israel as their country of residence, they said the host abruptly canceled the stay.

In the message shared by the couple, the owner made clear the decision was political.

“Hello. I’m very sorry, but I don’t want to accept you,” the host wrote. “I’m against war, and therefore I do not accept guests from Israel or Russia.” He continued, “I can’t understand how people can enjoy traveling while killing people.”

The host added that the rejection reflected his personal views, not the country as a whole. “This is only my personal opinion, and it does not represent all of Japan, so please find another place to stay,” he wrote, concluding, “Thank you.”

“We were left speechless,” Oren told Israel Hayom. “We didn’t believe this was happening in Japan, a country we always heard was indifferent to politics and not biased against Israelis.”

Rather than respond directly, the couple said they continued searching for alternative accommodations. They also shared the exchange in a Facebook group for Israeli travelers in Japan to warn others.

The post quickly drew hundreds of reactions, many expressing outrage. Some urged the couple to file a formal complaint through Israel’s embassy, while others said they would push back publicly by posting negative reviews online.

Oren said the backlash appeared to reach the guesthouse owner, who later contacted the couple and demanded the post be removed. According to Oren, the owner also threatened to expose the couple’s personal details if they refused.

“We didn’t imagine we would have to deal with a threat when we were still only at the booking stage,” Oren said, adding that he deliberately avoided replying to the host’s original email to prevent any attempt to shift blame onto the couple.

“He should deal with the consequences of what he did,” Oren said.