Austrian Tourist and Local Woman Arrested for Having Sex at a Japanese Shrine

A Shintō shrine (archive image) is used to worship a Japanese deity and not to satisfy one's own desires.

A 61-year-old Austrian man was arrested in Japan last month after being caught having sex with a Japanese woman in her 40s on the grounds of a shrine in Kesennuma, a coastal town about 500 kilometers north of Tokyo. Local police charged the couple with disrespecting a place of worship following the August 22 incident. The man was taken into custody as a potential flight risk but has since been released. Authorities did not arrest the woman, determining she was not a flight risk. The police did not disclose details of the man’s punishment and did not clarify whether he was a tourist or resident. Although rare, similar incidents of disrespecting Japanese shrines have occurred in the past, sometimes resulting in fines or other penalties.

The Austrian man remains in custody as police continue their investigation into the incident. Authorities are working to uncover the full details and motives behind the behavior to ensure that appropriate legal action is taken. In Japan, religious sites are held in high regard, and engaging in sexual activities at these sacred places is considered a serious violation of cultural respect.

Japan offers alternatives like “love hotels” for private encounters. However, using a shrine for such activities demonstrates a blatant disregard for local customs and the significance of these holy sites. In contrast, larger cities like Tokyo have designated red-light districts, such as Kabukicho in West Tokyo, which are intended specifically for adult entertainment. This stark difference highlights the inappropriateness of the shrine incident and underscores the clear distinction between appropriate venues for such activities and the revered nature of religious spaces.