Yes. Bed bugs are found in Japan, and reports rose sharply after travel reopened in 2023. Most travelers never meet one, but a few simple checks cut your risk a lot.
How common are bed bugs in Japan?
They are not everywhere, but they are no longer rare. In Tokyo, consultations about bed bugs at local public health centers went from 278 in fiscal 2016 to a peak of 537 in fiscal 2023. The count was 486 in fiscal 2024 and 338 in fiscal 2025, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Nationwide, the Japan Pest Control Association logged 1,176 bed bug complaints in 2023, about 500 more than the year before, and 1,185 in 2024 (AGI). These figures only count people who asked for help, so the real number of cases is higher.
Why are bed bugs increasing in Japan?
Travel is the main driver. Bed bugs ride in luggage and clothing, and Japan now welcomes record numbers of visitors while many Japanese residents travel abroad again. Experts also report bed bugs in Japan that resist common insecticides, which makes them harder to wipe out (Japan Environmental Sanitation Center, MHLW training material).
Where do travelers find bed bugs in Japan?
Most reports come from places with many guests and fast room turnover:
- Business hotels and large city hotels in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto
- Hostels, guesthouses and capsule hotels
- Vacation rentals
Price is not a reliable guide. Bed bugs do not come from dirt; any hotel can get them from a guest’s suitcase. What matters is how fast the hotel notices and treats them. Many Japanese hotels now use trained detection dogs to check rooms (AGI).
How to avoid bed bugs on your Japan trip
Before you book:
- Check the BED BUGS JAPAN map for recent reports at your hotel and nearby ones.
- Read recent reviews and search the hotel name with “bed bugs”.
When you arrive (tips from Japan’s public health guidance):
- Keep your suitcase on the luggage rack or in the bathroom until you have checked the room.
- Check the mattress seams, headboard, sofa and closet for small brown bugs, dark spots or tiny eggs.
- If anything looks wrong, ask for a different room, ideally on another floor.
- Keep worn clothes in a sealed plastic bag.
When you get home:
- Unpack outside the bedroom and check your bag.
- Put travel clothes straight into the washer and dry them on high heat.
A note on our map
Our map shows hotels where guests have reported bed bugs, with the source and date of each report. A report means a problem was seen at that time; the hotel may have fixed it since. And no report does not mean a hotel is guaranteed free of bed bugs.
Got bitten? See Bed Bug Bites in Japan: What to Do. Need to tell the hotel? See How to Say “Bed Bugs” in Japanese.
