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[Herald Economy = Reporter Choi Won-hyuk] A woman living in Japan says she gets bombarded every spring with requests from acquaintances asking for free overnight stays.
Recently, JTBC’s show Sageon Banjang ran a segment about the frustrations of a Tokyo-based woman in her 40s who was identified only as A.
A said, “When the cherry blossoms are at their peak, I hear ‘I’m so jealous you live in Japan’ all the time. There was a time I loved this season, but the flood of messages every March and April has made me dread spring.”
She went on, “One day my aunt called and said, ‘We’re coming to Japan with the family next week. You live in Tokyo, right? Can we stay at your place one night?’ I said, ‘We do live in Tokyo, but our home is very small,’ and tried to decline. She kept pushing: ‘Don’t worry. We’ll get there late, sleep quietly in the living room, and leave early. Please don’t worry.’”
A said this pattern repeats every year with relatives, friends and other acquaintances, not just her aunt.
“In spring, I have guests from Korea almost every week. For them it’s an occasional trip, but for me it happens every year, and it’s exhausting,” she confessed.
“I could say no, but once I refused and a friend stopped contacting me. Because of that, I find myself keeping my distance from people every spring. This can’t go on forever. What am I supposed to do?” she asked.
Attorney Sohn Su-ho offered practical advice: “Keeping good relationships with family and friends is important, but this situation is tricky. Your home is small and you have family living with you, so the request seems unreasonable. There are plenty of inexpensive hotels in Japan. Tell them, ‘My home can’t accommodate guests; please book a hotel,’ and they should understand.”
Psychology professor Park Sang-hee agreed, saying, “When you’re young you might not notice, but as you get older it becomes really hard. Everyone has routines, and when those routines are disrupted it hits you. Looking for an affordable hotel is probably the best solution.”
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