Kanazawa inn offers free stays to foreign tourists stranded in Japan due to coronavirus

An accommodation facility in the city of Kanzawa, central Japan, is offering free accommodation to international tourists who are unable to return to their home countries due to travel restrictions put in place to control the spread of the Covid-19-causing coronavirus. 

Through crowdfunding project “Room for Rescue, ” Kaname Inn Tatemachi is offering foreign tourists stranded in Japan free-of-charge stays for a limited period of time, with the facility currently able to host emergency guests until April 30 this year.

In early March the facility, run by Kanazawa-based company SlackTide, began using its Facebook page to offer free accommodation to Japanese guests in order to support local businesses in Kanazawa, such as restaurants, struggling in the face of a sharp decline in tourist numbers after the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

The initiative led company president and food blogger Hiroshi Hosokawa in a new direction.

“Someone had contacted me with an urgent message saying, “My Dutch friend is having difficulty getting back to his home country. Can you take him in for two weeks?” Hosokawa recalled.

“I wouldn’t have imagined this kind of trouble, and I immediately wanted to help other people if I could. At first, I reached out to friends and to friends of friends, but there are many more people who need this help than I can reach on my own. So I wanted to extend this offer to any travelers who cannot get home.”

“We want you to provide you a place to feel safe, and of course, we are happy to share Kanazawa with you, as with all our guests.”

(Hosokawa (right) with first guest of Room to Rescue project at Kaname Inn Tatemachi)

Kaname Inn Tatemachi launched a crowdfunding campaign as it seeks the support needed to cover operational and staffing costs in order to be able to continue offering free accommodation to stranded travelers.

The initial goal of the campaign was to reach 7.56 million yen, the operating costs of supporting emergency stays through April 15. According to inn's Crowdfunding campaign page, an extension of stays would be considered if guests are still unable to return home.  

The facility plans to work with nearby accommodation options if the number of inquiries exceeds its capacity. 

At the time of writing foreign tourists stranded in Japan due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus who are looking for a place to stay should email Kaname Inn Tatemachi before 17:00 April 11.  

Details of the free-stay requirements can be found on the facility’s website. 

"Room for Rescue" Crowdfunding campaign page.

Kaname Inn Tatemachi opened in the spring of 2017. The nine-floor facility houses 38 rooms, in seven different styles, in the city’s Tatemachi district.  

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