A Ukrainian tourist discovered a man hiding under her bed at APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower in Tokyo during her solo trip to Japan.
Nataliia Khomenko booked a four-day stay at the hotel from March 29 to April 1. She selected Japan for her solo trip due to its safety reputation for women travelers.
After an uneventful first night, Khomenko returned to her room around 7:30 pm following her second day of sightseeing. She detected an unusual smell in her room, which prompted her to check under the bed.
When she looked underneath, she saw a pair of eyes staring back at her. Both Khomenko and the man screamed. The intruder, whom she described as “Asian,” fled from the room immediately.
Hotel staff responded to her calls for help and contacted police. A power bank and USB cable were found under the bed after the incident.
Khomenko questioned how someone entered her room since both floor and room access required keycards. The hotel staff provided no explanation for the security breach.
She also noted the absence of working CCTV cameras on the property, which left police without video evidence to identify the intruder.
Following the incident, Khomenko checked out and relocated to another hotel that night. She requested a full refund of her USD 510 (SGD 671) payment but initially received no response from management.
The booking platform she used offered only USD 178 (SGD 234) in credit as compensation. After further complaints, the hotel agreed to a full refund but declined her request for USD 1,600 (SGD 2,105) in compensation for emotional distress, citing policy limitations.
Police informed Khomenko they couldn’t file the case as a crime or continue investigation without video evidence to identify the suspect. The hotel branch manager stated in an email they were still examining the incident.
Khomenko shared her experience on social media platforms on April 25, with her Instagram video accumulating nearly two million views. She reported ongoing psychological effects from the incident, including sleep difficulties and anxiety.
She publicized her experience to raise awareness about the security failure. Social media responses included calls for the hotel to be removed from booking platforms, while some users suggested alternative accommodation options for solo female travelers.
