Santa Hills

I was shocked to be told I couldn't stay here because I'm a foreigner, even if we booked separate cabins. There are five of us, two adults and three kids. Apparently they'd let us stay if a Japanese person made the booking, but you have to speak Japanese.

We had plenty of room in the Santa house, and it was clean. The cottage had a Christmas tree, an organ, and a sleigh, while the kids' room had a slide and some Christmas books. There was a big fireplace and a veranda too. The room also came with cooking utensils, a fridge, rice cooker, and microwave. I thought it was really good value.

The owner's reply seems reluctant to call this racial discrimination and says foreign families are welcome. But larger groups of Japanese people are allowed while foreign groups of the same size aren't. That's absolutely a racial issue. A rule should apply equally, or not at all. The message this gives, even if the company doesn't see it, is that there's something inherently wrong with foreigners in larger groups compared with Japanese guests. If the problem is explaining the rules, explain them better. If it's enforcing them, improve security. If staying at Santa Hills requires a basic level of Japanese conversation, then make that the requirement, rather than nationality. A policy of "groups of foreigners bad, groups of Japanese good" is bigoted. It shows an ugly, exclusionary side of Japan and leaves those of us who have made Japan our home feeling unwanted and pushed away. This review is a protest against Santa Hills' discriminatory position on letting foreigners stay at the site. Their illogical replies to people asking them to review only if they had stayed there ring hollow when those people were refused simply because of their skin color and an assumption that all foreigners are alike. It's racist and goes against the inclusive spirit of the National Camping Association of Japan, which certifies the site. It's unfortunately not rare for tourists in Japan to act in ways that disregard local sensibilities, but that doesn't justify a company treating everyone alike. I've lived in Japan for 11 years and have seen Japanese people behave inappropriately at times too. Banning all groups of foreigners is infuriating, and conflicts with the welcome I've felt as an expat at many other campgrounds and lodgings around Japan. If thousands of other places can host foreign guests, Santa Hills can too. Any policy should apply to every guest equally, whatever their nationality. If Santa Hills is struggling with foreign visitors, it could hire foreign staff to help with problems and bridge cultural gaps. I'll remove or amend this review if the policy changes.

This is a lovely, peaceful place for families, and it's unfortunate that some people ignored the rules because they felt entitled to do what they wanted. Now foreigners won't be allowed during the festive period. That's tough on the foreign guests who follow the rules, but it can't be helped, it is what it is and can't be helped. Well, it could be helped if visitors respected the country instead of treating it like their own. Keep up the good work, Owner-san. People should be able to enjoy the place as intended. Thank you for your hard work！！