Munakata Taisha - Three Shrines

Three Shrines

All three shrines are located in Fukuoka Prefecture, yet they are all on separate islands. The main shrine, Hetsu-gū, is located on the mainland of Kyūshū. Nakatsu-gū is established at the foot of Mt. Mitake on the island of Ōshima off the west coast of Kyūshū. The final shrine, Okitsu-gū, is on the island of Okinoshima located in the middle of the Genkai Sea. The shrine occupies the entire island, therefore women are not allowed to set foot on the island and men must perform a purification ceremony before landing.

In 2009 the three shrines were submitted for future inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the serial nomination Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in Munakata Region.

Shrine Name Enshrined Deity Island Location Coordinates
Hetsu-gū (辺津宮?) Ichikishima Hime-no-Kami (市杵島姫神?) Kyūshū
Nakatsu-gū (中津宮?) Tagitsu Hime-no-Kami (湍津姫神?) Ōshima
Okitsu-gū (沖津宮?) Tagori Hime-no-Kami (田心姫神?) Okinoshima

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