Okinoshima Island in Japan Gains World Heritage Status; Women Ban on "Island of the Gods" Sparks Discussion

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots / Zhang Yingying, compiled and translated

Known as the "Island of the Gods" (where gods reside), Okinoshima is located about 60 kilometers from the Kyushu mainland and falls within the sacred domain of Munakata Taisha. For a long time, only Shinto priests from Okitsu Shrine have been allowed on the island. It opens to just 200 men once a year, on May 27. Before setting foot on the island, visitors must strip naked and purify themselves in the sea. The ban on women visiting has been a longstanding tradition rooted in faith. To this day, male residents on the island still need to immerse themselves in the sea daily for purification before going ashore. Located between Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula, Okinoshima held significant spiritual importance for maritime safety and cultural exchange from the 4th to the 9th centuries. Due to its reverence for nature, the island remains largely untouched by modern civilization, with around 80,000 ritual offerings unearthed, earning it the nickname the “Shosoin Treasury of the Sea.”

The local government of Munakata City in Fukuoka Prefecture applied to UNESCO in January 2015. UNESCO recognized Okinoshima’s archaeological and historical value, and the transmission of ancient faith traditions by Munakata Taisha as deeply meaningful to humanity. Thus, the recommendation for World Heritage status was approved. Upon learning of its official inscription, on July 10, Munakata Taisha saw a surge of worshippers, with local residents filled with excitement and a strong celebratory atmosphere. Moving forward, the Japanese government will officially rename the island as “Kaminozuka Okinoshima” (神宿る島　沖ノ島, meaning “Island Where the Gods Dwell – Okinoshima”). As there are multiple islands named Okinoshima in Japan, this renaming helps clarify which one is the newly designated World Heritage Site.

Japan continues to pursue further World Heritage site listings, including the Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region and the Amakusa Region. Both the Nagasaki churches and the Harauchi settlement in Amakusa are considered important cultural heritage sites for humanity. The Japanese government aims to register these as World Cultural Heritage Sites in 2018.
 

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