The Watatsumi Shrine in Tsushima City, Nagasaki, has announced a ban on all visitors following a “grave and unforgivable act of disrespect” by a foreign tourist on 22 March 2025. While the shrine did not disclose the specifics of the incident, it described the act as the final straw, prompting the decision to close the grounds to all tourists, both domestic and international.
The shrine's chief priest, Hirayama Shizuki, expressed frustration over ongoing issues with tourist behaviour, including property destruction and verbal abuse directed at staff. Despite previous consultations with police and local tourism officials, these problems have persisted, leading to the restriction of access. Only local parishioners or Shinto worshippers will be allowed to visit the shrine going forward.
The shrine has also banned photography and livestreaming on its grounds. "Any inbound tourist that would destroy a place, object, or person important to Japanese people is engaged in the destruction of Japanese culture," the statement reads.
The Watatsumi Shrine gained international fame after being featured in the popular video game Ghost of Tsushima, which is set on Tsushima Island. In the game, a fictionalised version of the shrine appears, attracting fans of the game to visit the real-life location. Many have come to take photos and immerse themselves in the world of the game, but this influx of tourists has contributed to the ongoing issues of disrespectful behaviour.
In 2024, a group of Korean tourists were accused of smoking, spitting, and ridiculing staff, prompting the shrine to impose a ban on Korean nationals. The shrine later reversed the ban but continued to face challenges with disruptive visitors. In January 2020, it had also banned foreigners from entering, a decision that was eventually overturned after it gained widespread media attention.
The current ban applies to all tourists, regardless of nationality, with the shrine clarifying that only those who come to worship the gods of Shinto will be allowed access. It further emphasised that anyone treating the site as a “theme park” or photo opportunity will be turned away.