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Akasaka Excel Hotel Tokyu in downtown Tokyo has apologized and removed signs reading "Japanese only" and "foreigners only" from elevators after it sparked outrage on social media ahead of the 2021 Summer Olympics.
The signs served as anti-COVID-19 precautions.
Tokyo implemented a state of emergency on July 12 due to concerns that an influx of tens of thousands of athletes and officials for the Olympic Games slated from July 23 to August 8 will spread the coronavirus.
Cases are already rising in Tokyo.
The hotel put up the signs on Friday in response to an Olympic games guidance to ensure the guests' movements related to the Games were separated from others staying at the hotel.
