Woman’s Tokyo trip turns into nightmare after finding man under bed
A solo female traveler’s long-awaited birthday trip to Japan took a terrifying turn when she discovered a stranger hiding under her hotel bed.
The creative producer and influencer, who had traveled from her home in Southeast Asia, arrived in Tokyo on March 29th and checked into her accommodation late that evening.
The following morning, she embarked on a day of sightseeing, exploring temples, parks, markets, and cafes in the city before returning to her hotel room around 7:30 p.m.
Exhausted from her day of exploration, she laid down on her bed with her phone, intending to book onward travel.
It was then that she noticed an unusual odor. Describing it as a sweet, rotten smell, akin to a dead animal, she traced the source to beneath her bed.
Without suspicion, she leaned forward to investigate. It was at that moment that she saw him – a man, appearing to be in his twenties or thirties, lying face down.
She noted his slightly bent arms and legs, and his stillness, emphasizing that only the smell had alerted her to his presence.
The discovery triggered an immediate scream of terror. The intruder, dressed entirely in black, then crawled out from under the bed, stood up, and stared silently at the petrified traveler.
She recounted the horrifying three seconds of his quiet gaze as she screamed, fearing for her life. Suddenly, the intruder turned and fled the hotel room. In a state of panic, the traveler struggled to call the front desk, unable to recall the correct number.
Her screams were heard by guests in an adjacent room, who promptly contacted hotel staff, leading to a police call.
A subsequent search of the traveler’s room revealed the intruder’s power bank and a USB cable under the bed.
The traveler speculated that he intended to stay the night, possibly to record her, suggesting the power bank was to ensure his phone camera remained charged.
The incident occurred at the APA Hotel Ryogoku, which is part of a well known budget hotel chain in Japan.
She questioned hotel staff about how the man could have gained access to her room, but they were unable to provide an explanation. Following her statement to the police, the traveler checked her belongings and found nothing had been stolen.
She immediately checked out of the hotel, and her partner booked her into a new one. However, the remainder of her trip was marred by significant anxiety and sleepless nights.
The initial hotel later informed her that they lacked security cameras, hindering the police investigation. While they declined her request for financial compensation for her disrupted trip, they did refund her for the unused nights of her booking.
The traveler has since spoken out about her experience, including contacting her home country’s embassy and sharing her story on social media, where it has gained considerable attention.
Many have questioned why the woman waited almost a month after her trip to share her experience, however the understandable reasons provided included fear of speaking out as well as having to take time to come to terms with the experience.
The woman described the incident as terrifying and a profound violation that ruined her travel plans and birthday celebration.
Her decision to eventually share her story was partly motivated by a desire to raise awareness and potentially prevent similar incidents from happening to other women traveling alone, particularly highlighting the unexpected nature of such an event, even in a country known for its safety.
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