Multilingual practices in the linguistic landscape of historical religious sites in Japan as international tourist destinations

Abstract

This study investigates the linguistic landscapes of three historical religious sites in Japan, Kiyomizu Temple (Kyoto), Tōdaiji Temple (Nara), and Ise Shrine (Ise), focusing on multilingual signage in the context of increasing international tourism. Drawing on a comparative approach between the Buddhist and Shinto sites, the study reveals that while the Shinto shrine grounds are monolingual, containing no signage in languages other than Japanese, the Buddhist temple grounds feature multilingual signage. This contrast reflects differences in the sites’ touristic status and religious positioning. The exclusive use of Japanese in the sacred grounds of the shrine aligns with their religious significance and ties to national ideology, whereas the temples have been adapted to accommodate international visitors. In contrast to signage within the temple and shrine grounds, signage in the surrounding areas serves a wider range of communicative functions. These include the use of English to convey symbolic meanings for commercial purposes targeting Japanese audiences. The study also revealed that multilingual signage was disproportionately used for prohibitive purposes, underscoring the challenges posed by overtourism. The findings contribute to the theoretical development of the emerging discussions on the ‘religionscape’ by offering one way of interpreting the linguistic landscape of religious sites in Japan.

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