Ghost of Tsushima Real-Life Shrine Bans Tourists After Vandalism

A real-life shrine from Ghost of Tsushima announced it is issuing a ban on tourists. Specifically, the Watazumi Shrine located on Japan’s Tsushima Island will only allow access to those using the Shinto shrine for worship.

Tourists banned after “unforgivable act of disrespect” committed at real-life Ghost of Tsushima shrine

As reported by Automaton, the Watazumi Shrine’s reasoning for the ban on all tourists is due to “a grave and unforgivable act of disrespect committed by foreigner(s).” The nature of what that act entails is unknown. However, the shrine’s officials state they’ve discussed the matter with law enforcement on more than one occasion. Some of these problematic acts that were reported include vandalism and physical and verbal abuse against the shrine’s staff.

This ban affects both domestic and international tourists, but the shrine’s decision is specifically due to the actions of foreign tourists. The shrine’s officials stated, “Inbound tourism’s destruction of places, things, and people cherished by the Japanese is nothing less than the destruction of Japanese culture.”

Players of Ghost of Tsushima may recognize the Watazumi Shrine as it is claimed that it inspired the Scarlet Rock Shrine from the game. Back in 2020, fans of the game had made donations to the shrine to help repair damages made by a typhoon. The shrine was able to raise 27 million yen, significantly surpassing the funds originally needed.

This comes just days before Japanese politicians voiced their concerns with Assassin’s Creed Shadows and the influence it may have on foreign tourists. Although not specifically stated, Ubisoft launched an update when the game launched that made tables and racks indestructible and minimized blood splatter at shrines.

When Ghost of Tsushima launched in 2020, it was met with exceptional reviews. In our review, we gave the game a 10 out of 10 saying it “ends the current generation of consoles on a high note.”

The post Ghost of Tsushima Real-Life Shrine Bans Tourists After Vandalism appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.