Some hotels and a university are offering free accommodation to foreign nationals who are stranded in Japan because their home countries have closed borders due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.
The Kaname Inn Tatemachi, a hotel in the popular tourist spot of Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, has even taken out bank loans totaling ¥80 million ($742,000) to provide assistance. Its operator said it hopes to "repay foreigners who have come to Japan for sightseeing."
The hotel first provided a period of free lodging to a Dutch traveler in late March, and has since received an increasing number of inquiries from foreign tourists and students.