After the decision of the Watazumi Temple in Japan, the eyes were turned into popular video game Ghost of Tsushima.
Watazumi Temple on the island of Tsushima, Japan, has attracted attention for a long time with the interest of international visitors. However, the temple administration closed its doors to foreign tourists with an unexpected decision. Behind this decision, the temple has seen intense interest in recent years and some visitors are inappropriate behaviors. So what does this have to do with Ghost of Tsushima?
Ghost of Tsushima Effect
Watazumi Temple was recognized worldwide with the Ghost of Tsushima game published in 2020. The fact that the Scarlet Rock Temple in the game was inspired by the Temple of Watazumi made it a center of attraction for both players and tourists. When the temple was damaged in 2020 after a super crew, it was repaired by collecting $ 180,000 with a donation campaign from international fans.
However, popularity brought problems with it. The temple administration said that they have been uncomfortable due to increasing “disrespectful behaviors ği in recent years. In a statement made on social media, it was stated that “an unforgivable disrespect” was experienced and that this situation left the management seriously in a difficult situation.
The Temple of Watazumi had previously imposed a ban for South Korean tourists. Now this prohibition has been expanded to all foreign visitors. This decision of the temple is particularly associated with the popularity created by the Ghost of Tsushima game. The temple, which has gained a great reputation thanks to the game, is thought to have become a target due to intense interest.
This brought back the balance between the protection of cultural and religious symbols and tourism. The decision of the Temple of Watazumi continues to cause controversy between both tourists and local people.