Okinoshima

Overview

Okinoshima is an island in the Genkai Sea belonging to Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, lying about 60 kilometers from the Kyushu mainland and measuring roughly 4 kilometers in circumference. It is the northernmost point of Fukuoka Prefecture and is regarded as sacred land of Munakata Taisha, where the Okitsu-gu shrine is enshrined. In 2017 it was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site as one of the components of the Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region.

Highlights

• ●An island of about 4 km circumference in the Genkai Sea
• ●Sacred land of Munakata Taisha, home to the Okitsu-gu shrine
• ●Inscribed in 2017 as a World Heritage Site as a sacred island
• ●A natural environment designated as a natural monument

History

Okinoshima is regarded as the sacred land of Munakata Taisha and is a deity-island where the Okitsu-gu shrine is enshrined. In 2017 it was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site as one of the components of the Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region. It is also designated a natural monument.

Map

34.2443, 130.1058 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Grasp the island's location relative to the Munakata area
2. 2Learn its history as the sacred land of Munakata Taisha
3. 3Review its value as a component of a World Heritage Site
4. 4Learn about its natural environment as a natural monument

Did you know?

💡 Its maximum elevation is about 244 meters and its area is roughly 97 hectares.

Nearby spots