‘No Thai guests’: Tokyo Airbnb host sparks backlash

A Thai tourist claims she was denied an Airbnb booking in Tokyo due to her nationality, following repeated issues with previous Thai guests. She shared screenshots of her communication with a host in a Japanese travel group, stating she had attempted to reserve a property in the Asakusa area along the Sumida River. The host apologized and revealed that the property owner had decided to refuse Thai guests.

The host alleged that Thai guests had damaged property, flushed toilet paper into a bathtub, caused plumbing problems, brought their own belongings, neglected to separate waste, and left the property in a dirty state. The host acknowledged that the woman might differ from the problematic guests but emphasized that the alleged issues had occurred "many times."

She asked her to understand why the booking couldn't be accepted. The post ignited a discussion among Thai travelers, with some criticizing the alleged behavior of previous Thai guests and others arguing the host should not generalize based on nationality. One Thai Airbnb host commented that refusing guests solely based on their country of origin would violate Airbnb's policies and could be seen as discrimination.

Another traveler mentioned that they had stayed at Airbnb properties in Japan, adhering to Japanese waste-sorting rules and other house rules, asserting that hosts should consider each guest's records and reviews rather than judging them based on nationality. The incident remains unverified beyond the screenshots shared by the tourist, and it is uncertain whether Airbnb has reviewed the case or taken any action.