Hot on the heels of acts of disrespect by foreigners at similar sites, Japanese officials have closed the doors to Watazumi Shrine. The exact nature of the issues remain unspecified, but the quote making the rounds refers to, "a grave and unforgivable act of disrespect committed by foreigner(s)." There have been previous mentions of both vandalism and abuse of staff at the shrine, issues that have popped up at numerous locations around Japan.
The irony of this specific situation is that foreigners, specifically gamers, raised money to repair the Watazumi Shrine after it was damaged during a typhoon. Watazumi was the real-life inspiration for the Scarlet Rock Shrine in the popular game Ghost of Tsushima, which is set in Feudal Japan on the island of Tsushima where Watazumi is located.
Those who manage Watazumi had previously chronicled the many issues they had been having specifically with Korean tourists. This led to a ban on Koreans entering the shrine, which was not surprisingly met with backlash. Now, pretty much everyone is banned, even Japanese tourists. On paper, at least. In reality, the shrine is mostly trying to keep YouTubers and anyone causing problems out. Visitors who come to truly worship or experience the site with reverence are still welcome.
Since the end of the pandemic, Japan has experienced an exponential rise in tourism, something many parts of the country are not prepared to manage. The low Yen has brought in ever-increasing numbers of foreigners, leading to a rising frequency of clashes between Japan's cultural norms and the entitlement many tourists travel with. This has become a major issue in smaller commuities and rural regions that are not used to high levels of tourism.