Miyajidake Shrine
The Shimenawa is the biggest in Japan.
Surprisingly, weight is 3ton, with 2.6m diameter and 11m length. Shimenawa is the thick, twisted,
straw rope. It was believed in ancient days that a Shimenawa had the power to keep off evil sprits,
so many objects connected with Shinto Shrines decorated with Shimenawa.
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Miyajidake Shrine is primarily dedicated to Empress Jingu and attracts over 2 million
worshippers a year who pray for commercial success, good luck, and to ward off adversity.
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UNESCO World Heritage / Sacred region Munakata
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Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region
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Ritual sites bearing witness to the successive phases of ancient rituals that chronicle the formation
of indigenous beliefs in Japan have survived to the present almost intact, because the island of
Okinoshima, as an object of worship, has been protected by established taboos strictly limiting
access to the island.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
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Hetsu-gu is one of the three shrines that comprise Munakata Shrine and enshrines Ichikishimahime-no-Kami, one of the three female deities of Munakata. Visitors passing through the torii gate and proceeding along the path will find the Main Hall, dedicated to Ichikishimahime-no-Kami, beyond the Shinmon gate |
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The steps lead to Takamiya Saijo (Ceremonial Site), where ancient rituals were performed. Takamiya Saijo is very important since the rituals currently observed at Hetsu-gu originated there. To the northwest of the ceremonial site, visitors can view the marine route linking Hetsu-gu with Okinoshima via the Tsurikawa River, Oshima. |
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The Tomb Group comprises the tombs of the Munakata clan, an ancient powerful family that led interactions with overseas countries. The Munakata clan also performed rituals on Okinoshima and nurtured the tradition of faith in in the sacred island |
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Nakatsu-gu, one of the three shrines that comprise Munakata Taisha, is situated on this island and enshrines Tagitsuhime-no-Kami, one of the Three Goddesses of Munakata. |
Munakata Shrine Okitsu-gu Yohaisho
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Because Okinoshima has long been an object of worship, public access to the island is strictly limited. The Okinoshima landscape has been preserved intact until now because local people have strictly observed various taboos. For example, even if one is allowed to land on the island, one is forbidden to speak a word about what one has seen or heard there. |
Munakata Taisha Shrine Hetsu-miya
| Torii Gate | Stone Lantern | Pond at the approach |
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| Chozysha, pureification place | Main Gate | Imperial Chrysanthemum pattern |
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| Main Shrine of Hetsu-miya | Main Shrine of Hetsu-miya | Deities in Hetsu-miya |
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| 700 years old Oak Sacred tree | Oak Sacred tree | Oak Sacred tree |
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| Entrance of Takamiya Saijo |
Approach to Takamiya Saijo through sacred area |
Takamiya Saijo Japan’s oldest Ancient style Shrine |
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| Tenni-gu Shrine | Teisan-gu Shrine | Shinpokan Museum |
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Munakata Taisha Shrine
Munakata Taisha is a part of World Heritage as Sacred Island of Okinoshima and
Associated Sites in the Munakata Region which has been registered in 2017.
Munakata Taisha is a collection of three Shinto shrines located in Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
The Munakata-taisha consist of three shrines—Hetsu-miya, Nakatsu-miya and Okitsu-miya.
The shrines are devoted to the three Munakata goddesses. These kami are believed to be daughters
of the goddess Amaterasu, the ancestress of the imperial family.
The deities has also been worshipped there for many years as the god of mariners, and traffic
safety on land as well.
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Munakata |
Nakatsu-miya Oshima Island |
Okitsu-miya Okinoshima Island |
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World Heritage
Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region
The site has been registered on the World heritage in 2017,
and consist of the following.
・Shimbaru-Nuyama Mounded Tomb Group
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