Tourists record viral TikTok dance at Japan shrine, American guitarist reacts
A group of tourists received criticism after they were seen performing the viral ‘Anxiety’ TikTok dance at Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Taisha, with American guitarist Marty Friedman also calling out the group for dancing at the centuries-old shrine.
X user Kunoichi shared the video, which showed several tourists dancing beneath the iconic Senbon Torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha, one of Kyoto’s most recognisable Shinto sites.
In the clip, the tourists were seen rocking back and forth and copying the moves from the ‘Anxiety’ dance as other visitors in the background appeared to join in.
The group jumped around, waved their arms and continued dancing beneath the rows of red torii gates, turning the sacred site into what appeared to be an impromptu social-media backdrop.
Sharing the video, Kunoichi criticised the tourists for treating the shrine like a dance floor and pointed out that Fushimi Inari Taisha was a sacred place of worship rather than a setting for social-media content.
Watch the video here: Japan, Senbon Torii is not a nightclub dance floor!!Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto is not a backdrop for social media content. It is sacred ground that has been a place of worship for hundreds of years.There seems to be no end to disruptive videos of people blocking the path— KUNOICHI _ (@hokkori_buzz) September 5, 2026The video also caught the attention of American guitarist Marty Friedman, who has a particularly deep connection with Japan.
Friedman, best known as the former lead guitarist of heavy metal band Megadeth, moved to Japan in 2003 because of his love for Japanese music and his ambition to perform Japanese music at the highest level.
He has since built a long career in the country, becoming closely associated with J-pop and Japanese popular culture.
His connection to Japan has included performing with Japanese artists, releasing albums based around J-pop and appearing regularly on Japanese television.
Reacting to the video, Friedman urged tourists to stop such behaviour, saying Japan had long been known for welcoming foreigners but warning that continued disrespectful conduct could change that. He also criticised the tourists for creating what he described as a shameful impression of their country.
His comments added to a wider discussion in the replies, with one person saying they appreciated Friedman speaking out and expressing concern that the behaviour of some foreign tourists was increasingly shaping negative perceptions of visitors to Japan.
Another user, who said they had visited Japan several times, claimed they had noticed tourist behaviour worsening and said they tried to call out particularly inappropriate conduct themselves, while remaining polite and matter-of-fact.
Fushimi Inari Taisha is particularly known for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which form long pathways up Mount Inari. The site is dedicated to Inari, the Shinto deity associated with rice, agriculture and prosperity, and is one of Kyoto’s most visited religious landmarks.- EndsPublished By: Yashna TalwarPublished On: Sep 15, 2026 11:52 IST
