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Hotels, university offer free stays for foreigners stranded in Japan

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Good for Japan for doing this. That's real omotenashi customer service. I am sure these tourists will never forget this kindness of Japan!

14 ( +17 / -3 )

@Jim

Many people don't feel safe getting on an airplane right now. Still, this is a great show up people stepping up to help others in need.

Also, @Jim some borders are in fact closed. An example to reference is the Philippines as well as Turkey. There are no flights between Japan and those countries. I know a few people that tried to get on the last plane out and are now stranded.

11 ( +16 / -5 )

Fighto!

One of the rare cases that I 100% agree with you!

Very good post!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Regardless of all of the other nuances identified above this is a good move by the hotels and universities.

Very kind of to them to do this!!!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

some borders are in fact closed. An example to reference is the Philippines as well as Turkey. There are no flights between Japan and those countries. I know a few people that tried to get on the last plane out and are now stranded.

There are certainly flights between Japan and Philippines. E.g. NH869/870.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@ HAMBURGER

If you are a foreigner stuck in Japan with no income nor option to go back home, you should try to contact your embassy. It is possible they can help you. Good luck.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Borders aren’t closed for legal citizens of many country ( few exceptions ). People can still enter their own countries from Japan provided they fulfill certain quarantine criteria as implemented by their country. Most foreigners who claim to be stranded in Japan are in fact there by choice. Like I mentioned few exceptions apply.

4 ( +16 / -12 )

So often on this site, we get blanket statements about how Japan hates foreigners, doesn't want us here, and that they secretly all hate us.

This story however is more inline with the reality of Japan. Unfortunately, the nature of the news means we rarely get stories like this, even though stories of Japanese people being welcoming of foreigners in day-to-day life are the norm by far. As much as the pandemic sucks, in this case it's provided the backdrop against which we are able to see this generous gesture by Japanese citizens to those who could use a helping hand at this difficult time.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Jim - Most foreigners who claim to be stranded in Japan are in fact there by choice. 

Wow! This is a pretty naive statement. Yes, some countries do have a mandatory quarantine period. However, the point overlooked is, many airlines have stopped flying internationally. All tourists have to have a return ticket. If their airline has stopped flying to and from Japan they are stranded unless they but another ticket with the few airlines that are still flying internally. Many tourists and students could not afford to buy an expensive one-way ticket to get out of Japan. Plus, the few that are flying are only flying hopscotch routes that could take days to reach their hone country. Then, they would have to deal with cancelled domestic flights and state borders being closed. Stating foreigners and tourists are staying in Japan by choice is ludicrous.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

finally Some feel good story here

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Many European countries do that for thousands and thousands of illegal aliens on a continuous basis (government pays the hotel).

Here, the invoice should be sent to the homes countries. Anyway, the bedrooms would all be empty so it is just a way to make good use of them rather than no use at all.

The foreigners shall be very thankful.

Wish them good luck and quick return if they need.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"The Kanazawa hotel plans to continue the free service at least until the end of this month."

In other words, the free service proved to be overwhelmingly popular and will be discontinued in a few days, at the end of this month.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Jim: "Most foreigners who claim to be stranded in Japan are in fact there by choice...."

So, in other words, some have. And this man and his organization are helping said people, who very likely need it. Imagine you focused on that instead of the very few who may wish to remain here by choice. But since you KNOW it as fact, who is it staying here by choice?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Kudos to them!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

In other words, the free service proved to be overwhelmingly popular and will be discontinued in a few days, at the end of this month.

No, that conclusion cannot logically be made.

What can be said is at the time that the person made the statement, they had plans to continue "at least" until the end of the month. We don't know what has happened since the statement was made, and therefore we do not know if they have decided to continue the service or if it will end in a few days.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"...foreigners who are stranded in Japan because their home countries have closed the borders due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus"

JT you need to fact check stories before posting them. Argentina and Holland have not closed their borders to their citizens. Even just a cursory check via Google would have confirmed this bv good on the locals for helping people out.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

The story doesn't say the countries have closed their borders to their citizens. The problem for these foreign nationals is that there are no flights out of Japan to their countries, and their countries have probably not opened their borders to international flights yet. The only way home for many foreign nationals would be on flights chartered by their governments.

We highly appreciate if Hotels, university offer free for Homeless and also those who out of accommodation due to COVID19 regardless of face

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Trying to book a free room now, but the line is constantly busy thanks to readers of this article. :-(

-15 ( +2 / -17 )

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