
Even Japanese hospitality has its limits.
Freedom and peace and quiet are definite upsides to living by yourself, but it can get a little lonely coming back to an empty house or apartment every night. At the end of the day, it really is nice having someone waiting for you at home.
Of course, the situation is a lot less heartwarming when the person keeping your bed warm is a total stranger.
On the night of February 22, a 24-year-old man living in the city of Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, went out to get something to eat for dinner. He left his apartment around 9 p.m., ate some chow, and came back around three hours later. When he tried to open his door, though, he was surprised to find it was locked, which was strange because he hadn’t locked it when he went out.
He hadn’t even bothered to take a key with him, so he had to contact the building manager to let him back into his apartment. By this time it was around midnight, but getting some shut-eye turned out to be out of the question, since the man discovered there was another man, whom he’d never met, sleeping in his bed.
Rather than nudge the stranger over to make room under the covers, the resident ran back outside and called the police so that they could handle waking him up. When they did, they learned that he was a 49-year-old man with no fixed address or employment. “I didn’t have anywhere else to sleep,” he explained, “so I went around looking for an apartment with an unlocked door.” In a way, it’s as logical an explanation as “I watched that crocodile video because I like crocodiles,” but he was still arrested on trespassing charges.
It’s unclear whether the 49-year-old locked the door after gaining entrance out of habit, as an attempt to keep the apartment’s rightful occupant out, or simply because he knew better than anyone that an unlocked door can lead to uninvited guests.
Source: Kobe Shimbun Next via Yahoo! Japan News via Otakomu
Top image: Pakutaso (edited by SoraNews24)
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Japanese family wakes up to find complete stranger sleeping in his underwear in their living room
Man in Japan arrested after sneaking into woman’s apartment and washing her lingerie
Osaka man finds stranger eating in his kitchen at night, stranger dies shortly after
Japanese man invites neighbor in for a few beers immediately after being shanked by him
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Mister Donut and Godiva continue their sweet sweets relationship with new treats on sale now in Japan
Japan’s kid-friendly ski program is now selling Pikachu snowboards for a limited time only
Massive manga collaboration bringing 100 years of Shueisha manga to Uniqlo T-shirts【Photos】
Buy a Japanese ambulance, pachinko machine or samurai sword at this government auction site
Which of Japan’s big three beef bowl chains has the best tonjiru pork miso soup?【Taste test】
The Straw Hat Students are back with a new One Piece Japanese high school anime short【Video】
McDonald’s hopes to make kids happy — by teaming up with Japan’s favorite blue friend Doraemon!
The Yellow Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is so bad it may damage Japan-US relations
Poképark Pokémon theme park area announced for Japan’s real-world Kanto region
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
Totoro cream puffs and Catbus cookies are finally available in downtown Tokyo
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
What’s inside Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Japanese police officer admits he was looking at porn on his phone while suspect escaped lockup
Police in Japan find dismembered body of father in attic of son’s condominium
Man in Japan breaks through his own apartment floor to attack woman’s TV
Osaka authorities finally arrest “Spider Man”
Mysterious Japanese woman gives one million yen in cash to man she’s never met, then disappears
Japanese police arrest Vietnamese man for stealing 3,000 pears in roughly 24 hours
Japanese man punches cab driver after he refuses to drive friend who’d just pooped himself
Japanese kid says shadows move because the earth rotates, teacher tells him he’s incorrect
Japanese woman finds out fiance she met when he “found” her lost phone is the man who stole it
The day our male reporter used a women’s restroom with other dudes and they learned about otohime
82-year-old Japanese man arrested for driving without license, says he had one 60 years ago
15 tons of sweet potatoes stolen in rural Japan, criminal crew may be targeting spuds
Man arrested for licking the face of Japanese police officer, claims he was trying to help
Man in Japan arrested for breaking into ex-girlfriend’s apartment to steal her Nintendo Switch
Saitama man repeatedly steals food from store by making his phone say “PayPay♫”
Leave a Reply