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
Osaka man finds stranger eating in his kitchen at night, stranger dies shortly after
Man in Japan arrested after sneaking into woman’s apartment and washing her lingerie
Woman in Japan breaks into home of complete stranger just to slap him in the face
Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed
Krispy Kreme Japan is bringing two special donuts to the most-forgotten big city in the country
Pizza Hut Japan’s drinkable curry pizza is here – Is it all we dreamed it would be?[Taste test]
Starbucks Japan hoping fans will go bananas for its new mottainai banana affogato Frappuccino
Man in Japan calls in bomb threat because he doesn’t want to go to his own work farewell party
Japan’s instant ramen snack theme park features an athletic course even adults can enjoy
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Memorial bell inside Hiroshima’s Peace Park has been silenced, but for a sweet reason
Japanese vending machine find introduces us to a new drink you can’t get anywhere else
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
This Tokyo Station sweets sensation sells out daily, but we finally got our hands on it
Hundreds of rose bushes in bloom at Tokyo’s off-the-beaten-path, next-to-the-tracks flower street
Studio Ghibli’s president is leaving the company. Will it change how they make anime?
Let’s hike a Japanese mountain (that isn’t Mt. Fuji) – Mt. Tsukuba[Photos]
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Chilling manga shows why sleeping with window open can be a dangerous way to beat summer heat
Japanese man invites neighbor in for a few beers immediately after being shanked by him
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”
Elderly Japan man arrested for stealing toilet, using it in his home for three months
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
Mysterious Japanese woman gives one million yen in cash to man she’s never met, then disappears
Japanese woman finds out fiance she met when he “found” her lost phone is the man who stole it
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Man arrested for licking the face of Japanese police officer, claims he was trying to help
82-year-old Japanese man arrested for driving without license, says he had one 60 years ago
Nagasaki man lifts his apartment toilet lid to find terrifying surprise inside