visitor from afar; rare guest
Refers to a visitor who comes from a distant place, often with a sense of rarity or specialness. Related to the older word まろうど.
See also: 客人
divine visitor; spirit bringing blessings
In folklore and Shinto contexts, a spirit or deity that visits from the other world, bringing good fortune, fertility, or blessings. Often associated with traditional rituals and festivals.
A visitor from afar comes to the island only once a year.
In the village, a festival was held to welcome the rare guest.
The marebito was believed to be a deity visiting from across the sea.
In folklore studies, marebito belief is considered one of the foundational cultures of Japan.
Standard kanji spelling for this word.
Rare kanji spelling; 賓 means 'guest' or 'visitor' but is uncommon for this word.
Katakana spelling used in some contexts, especially in folklore or academic writing.
Rare single-kanji spelling; may be confused with 客 (きゃく).
Rare kanji spelling; 稀 means 'rare' and reflects the 'rare visitor' nuance.
Derived from まれ (rare) + ひと (person), with the second element voiced to びと. The older form まろうど is a contraction of まれひと. The word has deep roots in Japanese folklore, referring to visiting spirits or deities.