2025 ARTICLE

The Shinto Shrine GPS Mix-Up

A group of tourists visiting Kyoto wanted to experience a famous Shinto shrine tucked away in the hills. They relied heavily on their smartphones for directions.

Following the GPS, they ended up… in someone’s backyard.

Confused but polite, they apologized profusely to the elderly couple who appeared, explaining they were looking for the shrine.

The couple laughed heartily and said, “You’re very close! Just take a left at the stone lantern, then climb the hill—unless your phone prefers gardens over gods.”

Turns out, the GPS app had mapped the shrine’s location incorrectly, leading many visitors astray.

Word spread fast, and the locals started joking that the shrine was playing hide-and-seek with tourists, making them explore Kyoto’s beautiful backstreets and gardens instead.

Visitors who got lost discovered hidden gems off the beaten path, turning the GPS glitch into an accidental Kyoto adventure.

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