Disrespectful Tourists At Japanese Temples Lead To Photography Ban

For the traveling tourist, Japan stands out from other locations. With its mix of tradition and unique modernization, the Land of the Rising Sun is a gem on its own.

The Inquisitr previously reported on some of the wonders that Japan provides but mostly on their temples, in which some of them will perform a Buddhist ceremonial funeral for cats of pet owners, believe it or not.

Anyways, Japanese temples are some of the most popular visitation spots, when it comes to historical Japan, for locals and tourists. It is also guaranteed to be popular among photographers. Unfortunately, some temples will no longer allow photography on the premises, thanks to the disrespect some tourist show when taking photos.

According to a translation of the article by Naver Matome, more Buddhist temples are prohibiting photography because, in general, the tourists are showing bad manners. It should be recognized that temples are places of worship, which is something that both Japanese and foreign tourists may forget at times.

Translations on Kyoto Hotel Search explain that photography disturbs some people who visit the temples as part of their pilgrimage. Some visitors want to enjoy tea with the peaceful scenery, something which may be difficult to do if shutter sounds are constantly being heard.

To be fair, some of the photographers are just trying to make memories, but the one causing the most issues are the professionals, who probably are not taking into account the others around them, unless those people are in the view of their “perfect shot.” As for those who want to “model,” they are not taking into account that everything around them is a cultural asset as they block pathways, trample gardens, and lean on walls and pillars.

As a result, those who plan on taking a trip to Japan anytime soon need to take into account that some of the Japanese temples show disdain when you whip out your Cannon, Nikon, or smartphone. To help out, Kotaku provided a list of Japanese temples that no longer allow photography on their grounds. Please take note photos shown were taken before the ban was initiated.

Now we do understand that some tourists will do their best to sneak a photo if they were to visit one of these Japanese shrines. In that case, it is best to simply ask someone in charge of the premises for permission despite the ban. Most likely, they’ll allow a picture or two simply because the tourist showed respect towards the shrine by simply asking first.

[Images via Detailed in Pictures “Description” Section]