14.Okinoshima(Fukuoka)

Okinoshima

Japanese sacred island where women are banned gets Unesco World Heritage listing.Since ancient times, Okinoshima has been preserved by keeping its existence largely hidden from the public.People worship the gods that dwell on Okinoshima and have long upheld strict taboos limiting access to the island that remain in force today.Archaeological remains found on the island reveal five hundred years of ancient rituals in transition, with artifacts dating from the fourth to the ninth centuries. Okitsu-miya, one of the three Munakata Taisha shrines, comprises the entire island as well as its three adjacent reefs.It is said to enshrine the deity Tagorihime-no-Kami, and has been designated by the Japanese government as one element of the Historic Site called "Munakata Shrine Compounds".The entire island has also been designated as a Natural Monument, the "Primeval Forest of Okinoshima".

Munakata Taisha

At Munakata Taisha in Fukuoka, which is a revered shrine with a long history, you can find peculiar charms for protection during one's travels. If you have a deep wish, it is well worth addressing it to the deities of this shrine.

Yui no ike