Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region

World Heritage

Japan

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Located 60 km off the west coast of Kyushu, Okinoshima is an outstanding example of Japan's sacred island worship tradition. Archaeological sites preserved on the island are almost intact and chronologically document the changes in rituals performed on the island between the 4th and 9th centuries AD. During these rituals, offerings were placed at different locations on the island. Many of them were brought from overseas and were of high quality, evidence of the close exchanges between the Japanese archipelago, the Korean peninsula, and mainland Asia. Okinoshima is part of the Munakata Grand Shrine, which is still considered sacred today.

# Archaeological sites