Okinoshima, Sacred island in Munakata, Japan.
Description
Okinoshima is an island in the Sea of Japan within Fukuoka Prefecture, extending across roughly one square kilometer some 60 kilometers offshore. The highest point reaches 244 meters (800 feet) above sea level, and the rocky terrain remains mostly forested.
History
From the fourth century onward, the location served as a navigation reference for vessels traveling between Japan and Korea. Archaeologists have recovered 80,000 objects here, including gold rings and other trade goods from long ago.
Culture
The name refers to the location far out at sea, where the island serves as the dwelling place of a deity. Visitors may take nothing from the shore, and anyone who steps onto the land must purify themselves in seawater through ritual cleansing.
Practical
Access is granted only to male Shinto priests and authorized scientists with special permission. The shoreline remains steep and rocky, so landing is possible only in calm weather.
Did you know?
A single priest lives here for ten days at a time, rotating with about two dozen others. During his stay, he performs daily prayers and rituals while living entirely alone.
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