Summary
- Tourists are now banned from visiting Watatsumi Shrine following an incident on March 22.
- The details of what transpired have not been revealed, but it is being called ‘a grave and unforgivable act of disrespect.’
- After sustaining damage following a typhoon, the shrine was restored through a successful crowdfunding campaign, thanks in part to the popularity of Ghost of Tsushima.
Tourists have been banned from a famous Japanese monument that was rebuilt through crowdfunding following the success of Ghost of Tsushima. Sucker Punch’s 2020 open-world epic sends players back in time to feudal Japan, where a lone samurai named Jin Sakai fights to free his home island from an invading Mongolian army. Ghost of Tsushima was a resounding success both critically and commercially, so much so that both a sequel and live-action movie adaptation are in development.
Ghost of Tsushima’s success has also inspired some gamers to visit modern-day Japan to see the sights recreated in the game and even inspired some real-life charity efforts to benefit the country. Back in 2021, crowdfunders managed to raise enough money to help restore the Watatsumi Shrine on Tsushima Island after it was damaged in a typhoon. While the sacred shrine wasn’t featured in Ghost of Tsushima, the game’s popularity was a major factor in building support for the restoration efforts, which managed to raise over 500% of its original target goal.
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Unfortunately, not everyone who has come to visit the restored Watatsumi Shrine has had respectful intentions, and now its caretakers have banned all non-worshipping visitors from the grounds. According to an official Instagram post (via Dexerto), this decision came after an incident on March 22 that is being described as “a grave and unforgivable act of disrespect […] committed by foreigner(s).” Staff members reported putting up with “unbearable mental anguish” from this reported vandalism, and ultimately felt that the shrine itself was in jeopardy.
Restored Watatsumi Shrine Bans Tourists
The exact nature of this “unforgivable act” hasn’t been revealed, but it is the latest in a series of reported misbehavior by guests. In 2024, the Watatsumi Shrine banned South Korean visitors from entering, sparking controversy. The issue of vandalism against historic Japanese landmarks recently entered the public eye after Assassin’s Creed Shadows initially allowed players to damage shrines and temples while exploring its open world. This even caught the attention of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Ubisoft eventually released a pre-launch patch to remove the ability to damage shrines.
Sadly, such acts of vandalism aren’t as easy to remove in the real world, where one particular crime has led to all tourists being banned from the famed Watatsumi Shrine just a few years after Ghost of Tsushima fans helped repair it. It’s a shame that measures like this need to be taken to protect a shrine of such spiritual and historical value to the people of Japan, especially after so many recent video games have sparked an interest in the country and its landmarks.
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- Released
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July 17, 2020
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity