
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
Woman in Japan breaks into home of complete stranger just to slap him in the face
Tokyo sweets store has a “350% Pudding Soft Serve”, and people are going wild for it
Studio Ghibli adds new Jiji’s baby plush toy to its anime merchandise range in Japan
The Japanese city where ordering grilled chicken doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually get chicken
Beautiful off-the-beaten-path spot near samurai castle in rural Japan looks like a Monet painting
Japanese figure skating star Yuzuru Hanyu and Winne-the-Pooh announce crossover merch line [Pics]
Shinto shrine in downtown Tokyo announces cosplay ban
Wagyu ramen for foreign tourists appears in Kabukicho, with a very high price tag
Hello Kitty x Godzilla Happy Meals are coming to McDonald’s, but not in Japan [Video]
This beautiful Okinawa beach gives you the best of both worlds when visiting the prefecture [Pics]
McDonald’s Japan’s new Chiikawa Happy Meal figures are here![Photos]
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
End of a manga era as Weekly Shonen Jump’s circulation drops under one million
This beautiful rural Japan river is a great alternative to touristy summer retreats [Photos]
Studio Ghibli releases new Kiki’s Delivery Service Jiji music box for anime fans
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japanese man invites neighbor in for a few beers immediately after being shanked by him
Chilling manga shows why sleeping with window open can be a dangerous way to beat summer heat
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