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415:). 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.
327:, 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.
438:, 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.
427:(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
315:. 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 (
471:, said that regardless whether or not Okinoshima is added to the UNESCO cultural heritage list, they would not open it to the public because "people shouldn't visit out of curiosity."
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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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854:. World Heritage Promotion Committee of "Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in Munakata Region"
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807:. 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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657:"A Japanese island that excludes women may soon be a UNESCO World Heritage site"
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895:"'Sacred' men-only Japanese island to make UNESCO bid, but locals fear tourism"
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464:. The island gained status as a UNESCO World Heritage site on July 9, 2017.
367:. 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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762:"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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713:"Readable Japanese Mythology: Selections from Nihon shoki and Kojiki"
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In 2009, the island was submitted for future inscription on the
874:"Japan's Okinoshima islands gains Unesco World Heritage status"
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List of
National Treasures of Japan (archaeological materials)
630:"Okinoshima, Japan's Newly Minted UNESCO World Heritage Site"
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726:(1). American Association of Teachers of Japanese: 61–97.
587:"A sacred Japanese island struggles secrecy and survival"
852:"Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in Munakata Region"
827:"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
411:). Women are not allowed to set foot on the island (
683:"Landform features of Okinoshima of Munakata city"
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379:Japan's two oldest historical documents, the
311:. It is considered sacred land by the local
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689:(in Japanese). Japan Geoscience Union
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487:because they support populations of
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655:Andrews, Travis M. (12 May 2017).
318:The entire island is considered a
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551:"The Sacred Island of Okinoshima"
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915:"Okinoshima and Koyajima islets"
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636:. Association for Asian Studies
921:. BirdLife International. 2021
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303:is an island off the coast of
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1006:World Heritage Sites in Japan
996:Islands of Fukuoka Prefecture
798:"Okinoshima Seen from Shintō"
634:Association for Asian Studies
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518:World Heritage Sites in Japan
501:Pleske's grasshopper warblers
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967:34.2450861°N 130.1053333°E
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768:. Let's Travel in Japan!
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260:Inscription
131:Archipelago
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94:Coordinates
985:Categories
925:1 February
811:23 October
772:23 October
693:26 October
640:22 October
596:8 December
561:22 October
529:References
298:Okinoshima
286:Okinoshima
192:Population
167:Prefecture
60:Okinoshima
17:Okinoshima
483:(IBA) by
397:Amaterasu
342:Okitsu-gū
250:Reference
75:Geography
879:BBC News
745:12 April
666:11 March
507:See also
385:and the
254:1535-001
241:Criteria
204:Japanese
80:Location
858:15 June
836:15 June
425:iwakura
265:Session
230:Part of
106:130°6′E
103:34°14′N
831:UNESCO
760:Hide.
740:489230
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687:Confit
455:UNESCO
443:Kyushu
393:Kojiki
382:Kojiki
375:Legend
320:shinto
161:Kyushu
157:Region
801:(PDF)
736:JSTOR
716:(PDF)
309:Japan
149:Japan
927:2021
860:2012
838:2012
813:2020
774:2020
747:2020
695:2020
668:2022
642:2020
598:2017
563:2020
499:and
364:kami
324:kami
272:Area
177:City
728:doi
292:沖ノ島
25:沖ノ島
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