A Treasury of Ancient Ritual Records

Oshima Ferry Timetable

BusanFerry Departing from Departing fromOshima
Service Konominato

travel time / 15~25minutes
one-way fare / 560yen (children 280yen)

Korea

4

13:50

13:00

1

7:40

6:50

5

15:30

14:40

2

9:25

8:35

6

17:10

16:20

3

11:15

10:15

7

19:00

18:00

Okitsu-miya, Munakata Taisha（Okinoshima、Koyajima、Mikadobashira、Tenguiwa）

60km

m
5k
14

※ Landing is prohibited.

Tsushima

Genkai Sea

World Heritage Site
Okinoshimamk49

Sacred Island ofAmong the huge rocks on Okinoshima are several ancient ritual sites thathave been miraculously preserved in nearly pristine condition, together withvast quantities of ritual objects discovered there. These precious votive
objects were offered in various locations that are separated according tohistorical period. The ritual sites on the island date to a period of some five
hundred years, from the second half of the fourth century to the late ninth
centuries, and they are unique in that they show how the rituals therechanged over time.
In the latter half of the seventh century, similar rituals also came to beperformed on Oshima and on the main island of Kyushu. The kami faith of
Okinoshima is connected to the worship of the three female kami ofMunakata, a tradition that has been passed down to this day.

OshimaThe large quantity of votive objects that was used in ancient rituals
conducted on Okinoshima to pray for maritime safety bears witness toJapan’s active engagement with neighboring regions and countries
throughout East Asia. Researchers have discovered objects brought frommainland China, the Korean peninsula, and even Persia (Iran). Oceanvoyages hold a special significance in the island nation of Japan, and the threefemale kami of Munakata enshrined in Munakata Taisha were originallyguardian deities that protected the vessels that traveled these maritime routes.

Okitsu-miya Yohaisho, Munakata Taisha

Mt. Mitakesan ■Jinoshima

Nakatsu-miya,
Munakata Taisha

Oshima Ferry

Tsurikawa River
Munakata Roadside Station

Munakata
TaishaNuyamaguchi

Shimbaru-Nuyama
Mounded Tomb Group■Anzu-no-sato ■Hetsu-miya,
Munakata
TaishaFukutsushi

Stationmainland China

Okinoshima

HakataStationNishitetsu Bus RouteFukuma
StationMunakata
CityKokuraStationTogoStationahimgos eKaJR ain LinM

TogoStation■ Bunka Kaikan
Tsuyazaki
Higashimachi
FukumaJapan

Hours: 9:00 - 16:30, every dayof the week
Okinoshima ritual objects
and Munakata Taisha history

Kanezaki

Konominato Harbor
Konominato Hatoba (Pier)

Fukutsu Cityga

I.C

Uminomichi
Munakatakan Museum

Hours: 9:00 - 18:00 daily.
Closed Mondays.
Commentary on entire World
Heritage site group and 3D theater

Oshima Koryu-kan

Hours: 10:00 - 16:00 daily.
Closed Tuesdays.
The Component Sites of Oshima

Camellia Stage

Higashi
FukumaStationKo

Exhibitions andVisitor Centers

Shimpokan Museumof Munakata Taisha

Oshima Harbor

WakaMiya I.C

Expressway

OKINOSHIMAand Associated Sites

Fukuoka
PrefecturePersia

Korean peninsula

Kitakyushu Airport

Hakata Fukuoka
Station Airport

OshimaEvidence for Overseas Exchanges

Kokura StationIki

Hours: 10:00 - 20:00.
Closed Tuesdays and the last
Wednesday of every month.
Shimbaru-Nuyama MoundedTomb GroupThe Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites
Preservation and Utilization Council
Secretariat: Fukuoka Prefectural Government
Phone : 092-643-3162 Fax : 092-643-3163
www.okinoshima-heritage.jp

in the Munakata Region

Korean peninsula

The Sacred Tradions in the Munakata Region

The Cultural TraditionofMunakata Taisha is composed of three separate religious sites that are situated within
an area of some 60 square kilometres: Okitsu-miya on Okinoshima, Nakatsu-miyaon Oshima, and Hetsu-miya on the main island of Kyushu. All three shrines areplaces of living worship that are also originally ancient ritual sites. The Munakata

Worshipping an Islandclan’s faith in the kami of Okinoshima gave rise to a tradition of faith in the threefemale kami of Munakata that has survived to the present day.

Okitsu-miya, Munakata Taisha– Tagorihime-no-kami –Koyajima, Mikadobashira,Tenguiwa and Okinoshima“Where the Kami Dwell”
The island of Okinoshima, which is located approximately
60 kilometres from the main island of Kyushu, as well as its
associated sites on Kyushu and Oshima, are exceptional
examples of the cultural tradition of worshipping a sacredisland as it has evolved and been passed down to the presentday.
Ancient ritual sites linked to prayers for maritime safety
remain on Okinoshima today, dating from the second halfof the fourth century to the late ninth century. These rituals
developed at the same time that active exchanges that wereoccur ring among the Japanese archipelag o, Korean
peninsula, and Chinese mainland.
The ancient Munakata clan worshipped the kami thatdwelled on Okinoshima, and their faith later led to theworship of the three female kami of Munakata. Okinoshima
forms one part of Munakata Taisha, which enshrines thethree female kami of Munakata. This sacred tradition has
been passed down to the present day, including its taboos
and the practice of worshipping the island from afar.

View of Okinoshima from Okitsu-miya Yohaisho, Oshima

Nakatsu-miya, Munakata Taisha– Tagitsuhime-no-kami –Okitsu-miya Yohaisho, Munakata Taisha
Illustration by Yoko Kitano

Shimbaru-Nuyama
Mounded Tomb GroupOshima

Hetsu-miya, Munakata Taisha– Ichikishimahime-no-kami –KyushuPresent-day

Ancient Topography

The sea inlet extended outward toward Oshima,forming a key maritime traffic route.

Hetsu-miya, Munakata Taisha

Nakatsu-miya, Munakata Taisha

Ancient rituals similar to those performed onOkinoshima were conducted at this site, which islocated near the ritual site of Takamiya Saijo, on
the slope of Mt. Munakata. Shrine buildings wereconstructed there at a later date. Situated on thebank of the Tsurikawa River, which was formerly
a sea inlet, this place represents the cradle of faith
in the three female kami of Munakata.

Ancient rituals similar to those performed
on Okinoshima were conducted on thesummit of Mt. Mitakesan, and a shrine
hall was constructed at the base of themountain. The footpath that leads up to
the peak of the mountain offers a view ofOkinoshima and the surrounding vista ofland and sea.

Shimbaru-Nuyama Mounded Tomb Group

Okitsu-miya Yohaisho, Munakata Taisha

This mounded tomb group provides evidence forthe existence of the ancient Munakata clan,
whose members nurtured the tradition of faith inOkinoshima. Five keyhole-shaped tombs and 41
other tombs of various sizes are constructedalong this plateau, which offers a view of the sea
that includes Okinoshima and Oshima.

Built on the northern shore of Oshima,
this is a place for worshipping the sacredisland of Okinoshima from afar. On clear
days the form of Okinoshima is clearlyvisible from the site, and it serves as asymbol of the tradition of Okinoshima
faith.