- By Nidhi Giri
- Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:52 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A travel experience shared by an Indian family in Japan has gone viral on social media after a delay in returning rented kimonos led to an unexpected police action. Mumbai-based content creator Ashika Jain posted a video on Instagram recently describing how a simple delay turned into a tense misunderstanding with the rental shop.
"Bhaisahaab Japan ki police literally hume pakadne aa gayi (Police in Japan came to arrest us)," the content mentioned in the video. "And it all started because I decided to wear a kimono that day." Jain explained that they had hired traditional kimonos from a store that offers tourists the chance to wear them for a limited time while exploring locations. These rental services are popular in Japan.
She recalled that the experience began on a high note. She praised both the variety of kimonos and the staff's assistance. She stated that after getting ready, the group spent time exploring new locations. "We were just walking, posing, laughing non-stop," she said.
However, things took a turn when they missed the return deadline, something which the Japanese are very particular about. "We were supposed to return everything by 5 pm. Hum late ho gaye (We were late)," Jain explained.
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What Happened Next?
Jain stated that every person in the family was charged a late fee of 1,100 yen (around Rs 646) for every half and hour delay. "We were five people and 37 minutes late," she added.
As per Jain, all negotiations to reduce the amount with the shop staff went down the drain. "I was just asking them to consider only the first half an hour. But, because of the language barrier, she thought I am refusing to pay, and she called the police!" she said.
After all the confusion, Jain mentioned that the police finally arrived and heard both sides. "Police ne calmly suna... par discount zero diya," she said. "But that's Japan. Rules are strict,” she added, saying that the family eventually paid the full fee demanded by the shop.