In the fall of 2020, the town of Tsushima’s Watazumi Shrine was damaged by a typhoon that struck the area, destroying one of its torii gates that rises out of the bay waters adjacent to the shrine. In the years since, though, the Nagasaki Prefecture Shinto shrine which served as a model for one of the locations in the "Ghost of Tsushima" video game has been dealing with unwanted visitors of a human rather than meteorological nature, and the situation has gotten to the point that Watazumi Shrine has now banned all “tourists” from visiting.
The decision comes after years of frustrations on the part of the shrine in dealing with disrespectful foreign tourists smoking, littering, and spitting inside the shrine grounds. At least one tourist was found riding a mountain bike through a restricted area, and the shrine also claims that tourists have stolen omamori, the good luck amulet charms that are sold by the shrine.
In January of 2020, the shrine voiced its intent to ban all “foreigners” from entering the shrine grounds, but later backed away from the policy. In June of 2024, after a Korean traveler became confrontational after a shrine worker admonished him for throwing his cigarette butt on the ground and spitting inside the shrine grounds, Watazumi announced that it would be barring “Korean people” from entering the site. Now, though, the shrine has decided to extend the ban to “anyone who is not a parishioner or worshipper.”
Watazumi Shrine announced the policy through a March 23 posting on its official Instagram page, opening with:
Important announcement
"As of today, Sunday, March 23, entry to the shrine grounds is forbidden to anyone who is not a parishioner or worshipper. In addition, all photography, video filming and live-streaming of the shrine’s ocean torii gates, buildings, and structures is prohibited."
Perhaps because the shrine’s previous attempts to ban foreign visitors met with negative reactions, the announcement makes specific mention that the no-tourists-allowed policy applies to Japanese travelers as well.
“In addition, all entry of domestic and foreign bus tours for sightseeing purposes will be rejected.”
However, the rest of the announcement makes it very clear that the shrine’s continuing difficulties with foreign tourists are the catalyst for the decision.
"On Saturday, March 22, at roughly 4 p.m., an immense and unforgivable act of disrespect by a foreign person took place at our shrine.
We have repeatedly discussed such matters with Tsushima city hall, the tourism agency, and the Nagasaki Prefectural Police, but have not been able to arrive at a solution. In addition to the mental anguish caused to our staff from the sacred grounds being violated, they have suffered repeated acts of verbal abuse and physical violence, culminating in an administrative crisis for the shrine."
The statement, signed by chief priest Shizuyoshi Hirayama and priest Yuchi Hirayama, concludes with:
"The behavior of inbound tourists destroying things and people that Japanese people treasure is nothing less than the destruction of Japanese culture.
We would like to express here our regret at the situation, and are taking action to protect the shrine and human beings’ mental wellbeing."
However, a ban on tourists would be difficult, if not impossible, for Watazumi Shrine to enforce, at least in its current configuration. While Japan’s largest and most famous shrines have admission gates (i.e. gates where a staff member sells tickets or otherwise regulates entry), the majority, including Watazumi, don’t. A large gate may be placed across the entire entry pathway at night, but at least while the shrine is open to visitors, there’s no one checking visitors on an individual basis and asking what the purpose of their visit is.
▼ Especially at rural shrines, usually you can just walk right in.
In addition, shrines don’t usually have an equivalent to Christian mass or Islamic salah in which a Shinto priest leads a congregation in organized, participative prayers at a set time. Unless someone is visiting a Shinto shrine for specific, reserved-in-advance rites (which are a very rare occasion), worship tends to be very low-key: tossing a coin into the collection box, ringing the bell, and saying a short, silent prayer or wish, which is pretty much the same thing that tourists do at Shinto shrines.
It’s also worth noting that taking pictures of or filming Shinto shrine structures isn’t generally considered sacrilegious, and so the no-photography part of Watazumi’s statement appears to be more a way of weeding out disrespectful YouTubers and social media influencers who can’t be bothered to avoid damaging the shrine grounds while lining up their shots from which to say “Hey, what’s up, guys?”
▼ Pretty much everyone, Japanese or not, who visits Hiroshima Prefecture’s Miyajima takes a picture of the torii, and no one is offended by the practice.
Also important to bear in mind is that even for Japanese people there’s often a tourism/sightseeing element to shrine visits. Many shrines are historically significant, have stunning classical architecture, and gorgeous gardens. While shrines are religious sites, many Japanese people have a relaxed attitude about religion, and secular enjoyment is often as strong a factor for Japanese shrine visitors as spiritual fervor.
It seems as though Watazumi itself may have later realized that its tourist ban was going to be difficult to carry out, and that even if it did find a way to do so it was running the risk of throwing the baby out with the bathwater by banning well-behaved tourists as well. In a follow-up post on its Instagram account, the shrine says that, for the purposes of its new policy, “A worshipper is someone who respects the gods and visits the shrine with a sense of reverence,” and that anyone visiting with that sentiment is welcome. The follow-up also says that visitors are free to take photos while on shrine grounds as long as they maintain that sense of reverence. On the other hand, those who see the shrine as “a theme park or just a place to take buzzworthy pictures” do not fall under the shrine’s definition of “worshippers.”
So as things stand, even though Watazumi isn’t taking back its tourist ban, in effect it’s really more of a “bad-mannered tourist ban,” since the requirement for visitors isn’t devotion to the divinity of the Shinto gods so much as being respectful of the religion. However, the fact that things have gotten to the point where Watazumi has enacted a no-tourists policy, even one with these fine-print allowances, shows that frustrations are still on the rise in many parts of Japan where the sudden rush of inbound foreign tourism is flowing, and underscores the need for travelers to be on their best behavior.
Sources: Instagram/tsushima_watadzumijinja, J-Cast News via Yahoo! Japan News, Search Korea News via Livedoor News
Insert images: Pakutaso, Wikipedia/Fg2
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Japanese shrine bans foreign visitors following disrespectful behaviour by tourists
-- Typhoon destroys real Ghost of Tsushima island shrine torii gate, crowdfunding campaign launched
-- The etiquette rules for visiting Shinto shrines in Japan
- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2025/03/25/real-life-ghost-of-tsushima-shrine-announces-ban-of-all-tourists-but-theres-some-fine-print/
25 Comments
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Wesley
Thanks for showing the world how "cultured" Koreans are. You have given all Koreans a bad name.
Would you like it if someone came and spit on the so-called comfort woman statue? Or threw cigarette butts at her face?
Mocheake
Just deal with each offender on a case by case basis. Solves the problem and prevents you from looking like a racist, etc.
Matt
I can understand their frustrations. They don't want to be walking around the whole time policing guests. It may not be a great solution for everyone as 99% of tourists are respectful but sometimes only a blanket rule will suffice. It seems like there are some tourists who are purposely disrespecting the shrines because of their own political/historical world views. That is unacceptable behaviour in a foreign country.
Daniel Neagari
I think from the article, that the shrine already tried that without avail, and probably is not a thing of one or two pople every couple of days but tens of poeple daily.
Hiring a security service is also costly and a shrine is not exactly a money making organization that can afford to pay for several private guards 24/7.
It is an issue that has be going on for several years and this is the best way to deal it that they came up to... and probably there are very few feasable options....
BB
Really shows how one person's actions can color perceptions and fuel racism if the witness has had only limited experiences with those who are different. One reason why living in rural Japan, as I did for two years, was a little tough at times.
Mocheake
Not buying that assessment. Most shrines have money coming out their torii. Come down hard on all offenders and post sign in several languages at entrances that tourists have to stop at and read before entering. Have them come in in paid guided groups if necessary . I absolutely do not believe that all the offenders up to now have been foreigners. They only publicize it when foreigners are involved just like in this story. All about foreigners behaving badly and that is just going with how it is perceived in the country as whole.
Daniel Neagari
@Mocheake
Seems you are getting all worked up... did I mention at any moment any particular etnicity, race or culture in my coment?
Shrines economies vary from one to other, so it is not for me to tell (although if you are well versed in the financial situation of Wataizumi, then my apologies). Still, payed guides and security personnel is not cheap thing.
The money donated by people to the shrines in most cases is for maintaining the shrine and paying for the people that work/live there, in some cases the money has to be saved for rebuilding the shrine every few years (that is not cheap)....
Again I think this is a desperate solution that they took, since any other option was not effective or is not possible to go through for one or other reason. Maybe in the future, with help from others a more effective solution may appear, and this "ban" could be left forgoten in the future.
Nippon Haim
I have a better idea: close all of Japan to tourists. That should satisfy all the grumpy pants who take complaining as their chosen profession.
WoodyLee
Mosques, Shrines, temples, even some churches or places of worship in Saudi Arabia, Israel, Thailand, Myanmar, Iran, the and many other not well known places of worship are closed to all non worshipper, Japan is doing it right to protect these site and keep them for what they were intended for.
Well Done.
Eugene
Don't even see why this is a news item. It's a religious site. Nobody but parishioners or worshipers is entitled to be there. If they want to close it to tourists they have the right to do so. Most japanese practice both Shintoism and Buddhism (at least for weddings, funerals, baptisms and blessings). So the type of behavior mentioned, even if it is rare is disrespectful.
Nibek32
They should just institute canings for these kind of offenses. Worked for Singapore.
kurisupisu
Banning ng foreigners seems harsh but well…
Mocheake
Yeah, I'm getting all worked up. Anyway, I didn't mention any in my rebuttal either so I don't get your point. Here's mine: If they have such a big problem, close it off completely and be done with it. The constant whine about foreigners is way past annoying, especially for people who say they don't complain. Ninety-nine point nine percent of the world will absolutely not care when/if they close this place.
Ricky Kaminski13
Interest approach, a ban on those that don’t show reverence although not a great use of language that maybe lost in translation, but you can see what the goal they are trying to achieve here. It’s Nagasaki after all, come on guys. Come here with respect and you will be welcome.
Idiots that can’t read this simple air in such a beautiful place beware. I think they are just giving themselves a sort of right to deny anyone being boisterous, loud, annoying, self tuber serving and it may even work. Most visitors will be more than happy to tread the grounds with respect. Almost makes you want to step in as a cultural tour guide and do the work for these guys. Obviously the tour guide associations are not doing too well. Maybe time to hire some J loving local gaijins? We can sort the scallions out.
Interesting story. Makes you think about the future of J tourism.
falseflagsteve
They seem to be having temper tantrums over this. I suggest seeking out an anger management course and living life with a PMA ( positive mental attitude) like what I do.
Their spiritual beliefs and prayers don’t seem to be working, lol
owzer
So post fines at entrance and enforce them.
Littering: 100,000 yen
Smoking: 200,000 yen
Graphitti: 1,000,000 yen
Basically make it a menu. Upon entrance, you agree to pay the prices for whatever you "order". Japanese, Korean, Potato, charge everyone the same.
Gazman
Charge people to go in & rip them off. Charge non-residents ¥5,000 a ticket. State on the tickets that littering/abuse of staff etc will result in a 1 million yen fine.
GBR48
They are overthinking things. Ban photography and most tourists will stay away. Ban phones too and almost all tourists will stay away. Hire an ex-Yak/ex-Sumo guy to wander around and remind people of the rules.
wallace
Not a very easy location to visit. Too much trouble and effort.
WA4TKG
Don’t blame them a bit, on average, Koreans and chinese are similarly offensive in both mannerisms and smoking (something here is deliberately NOT Capitalized)
Bret T
Since many of the religious shrines have no entrance control, charge a refundable fee to foreigners at immigration. If they are not accused and convicted of any desecration or other civil disobedience while in Japan, refund it upon exiting the Country.
Japan can use the money short term to generate revenue to help maintain the shrines.
deanzaZZR
Shrines have no authority to fine people. That entity would be the city, prefecture, etc.
Newgirlintown
’Disrespectful foreign tourists smoking, littering, and spitting.”
Note the use of the word ‘foreign’ to reinforce an us and them/ in group and out group mentality in people’s minds.
I’ve seen plenty of Japanese people not washing themselves before entering onsens, throwing litter into rivers and other bad behaviour but, well, let’s just pretend that doesn’t happen, shall we?
Newgirlintown
Also, note how smoking and spitting are referred to as behaviour by ‘foreign tourists’ but when you read on, you find that this was actually one tourist (singular) not tourists (plural).
This kind of reporting just amps up anti-foreigner sentiment in a country already underpinning by an us/them mentality.
Nippon Haim
Plenty of Japanese smoke and throw their butts on the ground, and you can hear the sweet echo of oldies hawk tuah-ing away all over the nation.