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A video that circulated on social media in November shows the man inserting the paper offering into the box on the desk where fortune sticks are drawn, the South China Morning Post reported.

Visitors are supposed to put 100 yen (US$1) into the box to draw from 100 bamboo sticks in a tube. They then need to find omikuji, a strip of paper that predicts your fortune when you make a prayer to the gods and Buddhas of a given temple or shrine, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

Netizens criticized his act as “disrespectful” and “insensitive” to local customs, saying it showed poor awareness of religious practices and common etiquette at sacred sites.

Joss paper is traditionally burned in some East Asian funerary rituals as an offering to ancestors; using it as a monetary donation at a temple prompted many viewers to describe the behavior as inappropriate.

“He is an idiot, asking for blessing with hell money,” a netizen wrote.

“He spent hell money in exchange for happiness in hell,” said another.

Sensoji, one of Tokyo’s most-visited temples, did not immediately comment in the video thread.

Temple staff routinely remind visitors to follow on-site rules and to show respect when participating in rituals such as drawing fortunes, making offerings, or making wishes at the shrine.

The video went viral amid rising tensions between Beijing and Tokyo following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent comments about Taiwan, AFP reported.

China has urged its citizens not to travel to Japan.

Chinese airlines are also offering refunds on Japan trips, recording 543,000 cancellations of tickets between Nov. 15 and 18.

Japan also warned its citizens in China to be mindful of their safety.