Woman finds Asian man hiding under bed in Japan hotel, shares scary experience

India Today

28-04-2025

A Thailand-based woman's solo trip to Japan took a horrifying turn when she discovered a man hiding under her bed in her room at the APA Hotel in Tokyo.In a video posted on Instagram, Natali narrated her scary experience that triggered a discussion regarding security protocols in hotels.'I booked my solo trip to Japan because I thought Japan was a very safe country. I stayed in a very well-known chain hotel in Japan – APA hotel – that is in Tokyo near Ryogoku Tower,' she said, adding that the place 'looked legit with a key card that allowed me access only to my floor and to my room.'advertisement
Everything was fine on the first day, she said, but her peaceful trip turned into a nightmare soon after. After a day of sightseeing, she returned to her room around 7:30 pm, unlocked the door with her key card, and settled into bed. It was then that she noticed a strange smell coming from beneath the bed.'At first, I thought it was coming from my hair or the bedsheets. But then, I realised it was coming from under the bed. Jokingly, I thought what if there was a dead person lying under the bed? But when I leaned over to check, I saw a pair of eyes staring at me. I saw an Asian man under my bed,' she said.Terrified, Natali screamed as the man, an Asian male, emerged from under the bed and stared at her for several seconds: 'Those seconds felt like my life was over. Then, he started to scream too and ran out from my room. I screamed for help and the hotel administration came and called the police. They found a power bank and a USB cable under my bed. I kept asking the hotel how it happened. And they didn't have any answer for me. Even more, they suggested upfront that police won't find the intruder because they had no cameras.'advertisementFeeling unsafe, Natali moved to another hotel and demanded a full refund. In the meantime, she received no contact or apology from APA Hotel, prompting her to reach out to the booking platform, Agoda.'When I reached out to Agoda, through which I booked the hotel, they offered me $178 in coupons, which was ridiculous compared to the $600 I paid for three nights. I called the hotel directly, demanding a full refund and proper report by the evening. They agreed to refund my original payment. But the police couldn't identify the intruder,' she said.Describing the rest of her trip as a nightmare, Natali said that she couldn't sleep: 'I was constantly on the edge, checking every corner of my room. I eventually wrote to the hotel, demanding compensation for emotional damage, asking for $1600. They refused, saying it wasn't their policy. Now, I am left wondering how someone could get into my room, how someone knew that I was alone in that room and how the hotel can't take responsibility for such a severe breach of safety.'Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Natali (@natalisi_taksisi)In the comments section, a viewer, who claimed to be a former duty manager, said that the master keys to hotel rooms are typically only accessible by housekeeping staff and the duty manager, suggesting that hotel employees could have been involved."The key system can track which master key was used, so if the hotel hasn't found answers, it's pretty much obvious the hotel staff is at fault," a user said.Several others shared similar experiences at APA Hotels, with some speculating that the intruder might have been a hotel employee.'I had a similar encounter with APA, but in Osaka. I sat on the bed while watching TV and an old man just walked into my room, as though it wasn't his first time. And I have no idea how he managed to come in. He looked at me while I looked at him with shock and fear. He stood there for a while and went off. I also moved to another hotel the next day and never booked APA anymore,' a user said.'I used to work in a hotel and I can tell you that the hotel can definitely find out who possibly that person was,' another user added.Must Watch