Native name: 沖ノ島 | |
|---|---|
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Okinoshima_aerial01.jpg) | |
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Japan_natural_location_map_with_side_map_of_the_Ryukyu_Islands.jpg)  Okinoshima Location in Japan | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Sea of Japan East China Sea |
| Coordinates | 34°14′N 130°6′E / 34.233°N 130.100°E |
| Archipelago | Japanese archipelago |
| Administration | |
| Region | Kyushu |
| Prefecture | Fukuoka Prefecture |
| City | Munakata, Fukuoka |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1 |
| Ethnic groups | Japanese |
| Part of | Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iii) |
| Reference | 1535-001 |
| Inscription | 2017 (41st Session) |
| Area | 68.38 ha (169.0 acres) |
Okinoshima (沖ノ島, Okinoshima) is an island off the coast of Munakata, Fukuoka, Japan.[1] It is considered sacred land by the local Munakata Taisha. The island's population consists of a single employee of the shrine. He is one of about two dozen Shinto priests who spend 10-day intervals on the island, praying and guarding against intruders.[2]
The entire island is considered a shinto kami, and the island is off limits to women.[3] One proposed reason is that Shinto views blood as impure and menstruation would desecrate the island.[4] For centuries, only 200 men were allowed on the island on one day each year after they had ritually purified themselves in the surrounding sea.[2]
The island covers area of 97 ha (240 acres) and has maximum elevation of approximately 244 m (801 ft).[5]
- ^ Sato, Kumiko. "The Sacred Island of Okinoshima". Public Relations Office. Government of Japan. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ a b Kaiman, Jonathan (8 December 2017). "A sacred Japanese island struggles secrecy and survival". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
- ^ DeWitt, Lindsey E. (26 September 2017). "Okinoshima, Japan's Newly Minted UNESCO World Heritage Site". Association for Asian Studies. Association for Asian Studies. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ Andrews, Travis M. (12 May 2017). "A Japanese island that excludes women may soon be a UNESCO World Heritage site". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ Kuroki, Takahito (2019). "Landform features of Okinoshima of Munakata city". Confit (in Japanese). Japan Geoscience Union. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
沖ノ島は，最高標高が約240m