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426:). The only men permitted on the island are priests, researchers, military, and the media. Fishermen limit themselves to the port and do not enter the interior. Prior to receiving UNESCO World Heritage status in 2017, two hundred people (all-male) would visit the island once a year to celebrate the 1905 victory at the
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These restrictions contribute to
Okinoshima's reputation as a place of mystery. Other names for the island include “Island where gods dwell,” “Shosoin Treasury of the sea,” “Island of mystery,” and “The Unspoken One.” Archeological evidence dates religious rituals since the 4th century. Numerous
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created three daughters from a sword and sent them to Japan where they were worshiped by the
Munakata clan. The Munakata Taisha, a collection of three shrines in Munakata, is dedicated to the goddesses. Locals continue to worship them for protection across the sea. Likewise, the island itself is
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The island's deity was said to guard a popular trade route to Korea. In exchange for safe passage, fishermen provided offerings that included swords, flat-iron ingots, elaborate mirrors and bronze dragon heads. The offerings were concealed underneath stones or scattered between boulders.
338:, and the island is off limits to women. One proposed reason is that Shinto views blood as impure and menstruation would desecrate the island. For centuries, only 200 men were allowed on the island on one day each year after they had ritually purified themselves in the surrounding sea.
449:, collected the offerings and put them in a tower of his castle. According to legend, the tower began to shake, bright objects streaked through the sky, and diseases plagued Nagamasa's people. Nagamasa returned the objects to the island, and the unsettling events stopped.
438:(sacred rocks) from that time remain intact. Over 80,000 artifacts have been unearthed, which are now considered national treasures. The sacred view of Okinoshima and various taboos and prohibitions may have deterred travel to the island and preserved the artifacts.
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Local residents had expressed their worry that the island's inclusion on the UNESCO list would cause an increase of tourism that would threaten its sacredness. Takayuki Ashizu, the chief priest at
326:. The island's population consists of a single employee of the shrine. He is one of about two dozen Shinto priests who spend 10-day intervals on the island, praying and guarding against intruders.
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must be performed by undressing and bathing in the ocean. Nothing, even a blade of grass, may be removed from the island. No one may speak of what they have seen or heard during their stay (
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The Okitsu-gū shrine is located at the southwestern portion of
Okinoshima. It was established in the mid 17th-century. Prior to the shrine's establishment as a
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The island covers area of 97 ha (240 acres) and has maximum elevation of approximately 244 m (801 ft).
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considered a deity. The mainland has several
Okinoshima worship sites as travel to the island is restricted.
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situated nearby. Following the site's heritage inscription, this yearly event has since been canceled.
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865:. World Heritage Promotion Committee of "Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in Munakata Region"
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818:. World Heritage Promotion Committee of Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in Munakata Region
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Okinoshima has several traditions and taboos involving conduct both on and off the island.
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The island, along with the nearby reef islet of
Koyajima, have been recognised as an
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668:"A Japanese island that excludes women may soon be a UNESCO World Heritage site"
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906:"'Sacred' men-only Japanese island to make UNESCO bid, but locals fear tourism"
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475:. The island gained status as a UNESCO World Heritage site on July 9, 2017.
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378:. The shrine has been maintained in relatively the same condition since the
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The Sacred Island of
Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region
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773:"Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region"
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Sacred Island of
Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region
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Sacred Island of
Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region
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Today, many of the treasures are on display in the
Munakata shrine on
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724:"Readable Japanese Mythology: Selections from Nihon shoki and Kojiki"
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In 2009, the island was submitted for future inscription on the
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885:"Japan's Okinoshima islands gains Unesco World Heritage status"
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List of
National Treasures of Japan (archaeological materials)
641:"Okinoshima, Japan's Newly Minted UNESCO World Heritage Site"
737:(1). American Association of Teachers of Japanese: 61–97.
598:"A sacred Japanese island struggles secrecy and survival"
863:"Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in Munakata Region"
838:"Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in Munakata Region"
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The Journal of the Association of Teachers of Japanese
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Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in Munakata Region
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694:"Landform features of Okinoshima of Munakata city"
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322:. It is considered sacred land by the local
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722:Borgen, Robert; Ury, Marian (April 1990).
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329:The entire island is considered a
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562:"The Sacred Island of Okinoshima"
471:as part of the serial nomination
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647:. Association for Asian Studies
932:. BirdLife International. 2021
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1022:Important Bird Areas of Japan
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1007:Islands of Fukuoka Prefecture
809:"Okinoshima Seen from Shintō"
645:Association for Asian Studies
529:World Heritage Sites in Japan
512:Pleske's grasshopper warblers
345:Munakata Taisha Okitsu shrine
406:states that the sun goddess
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978:34.2450861°N 130.1053333°E
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692:Kuroki, Takahito (2019).
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779:. Let's Travel in Japan!
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568:. Government of Japan
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271:Inscription
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105:Coordinates
996:Categories
936:1 February
822:23 October
783:23 October
704:26 October
651:22 October
607:8 December
572:22 October
540:References
309:Okinoshima
297:Okinoshima
203:Population
178:Prefecture
71:Okinoshima
28:Okinoshima
494:(IBA) by
408:Amaterasu
353:Okitsu-gū
261:Reference
86:Geography
890:BBC News
756:12 April
677:11 March
518:See also
396:and the
265:1535-001
252:Criteria
215:Japanese
91:Location
869:15 June
847:15 June
436:iwakura
276:Session
241:Part of
117:130°6′E
114:34°14′N
842:UNESCO
771:Hide.
751:489230
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698:Confit
466:UNESCO
454:Kyushu
404:Kojiki
393:Kojiki
386:Legend
331:shinto
172:Kyushu
168:Region
812:(PDF)
747:JSTOR
727:(PDF)
320:Japan
160:Japan
938:2021
871:2012
849:2012
824:2020
785:2020
758:2020
706:2020
679:2022
653:2020
609:2017
574:2020
510:and
375:kami
335:kami
283:Area
188:City
739:doi
303:沖ノ島
36:沖ノ島
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