🗺️ Munakata Taisha宗像大社

Munakata Taisha appears in Japanese mythology and is one of the oldest shrines in Japan. The main deities worshipped are the three Munakata goddesses, who are the divine offspring of Amaterasu, the ancestral deity of the Emperor. There are approximately 6,200 Munakata shrines across Japan, with Munakata Taisha being the head shrine for both the Itsukushima Shrine and the shrines dedicated to the three Munakata goddesses. It is responsible for the prosperity of the imperial family and the protection of the nation, and today it is also regarded as a supreme deity safeguarding various "roads" such as navigation, road safety, life, art, and health, earning deep respect from the public since ancient times. Munakata Taisha consists of three shrines: "Okitsu-miya" on Okinoshima, "Nakatsu-miya" on Oshima, and "Betsu-miya" in Munakata, which face each other across the sea. The most visited shrine is "Betsu-miya." To reach "Nakatsu-miya" on Oshima, one must take a ferry from the Shimonoseki port, which takes about 15 to 25 minutes. On Oshima, there is a worship hall called "Okitsu-miya Harabaisho" set up for distant worship of Okinoshima. Additionally, access to Okinoshima is prohibited for anyone other than the shrine's clergy, so it is not possible to worship there. Within the expansive grounds of "Betsu-miya," starting from the "Honden," designated as an Important Cultural Property, to the "Takamiyama Festival Site," known for its significant energy, and the "Second Shrine" and "Third Shrine," which possess ancient shrine buildings bestowed by Ise Jingu, as well as the "Shinpo-kan," known as the "Sea's Treasure House," which displays sacred tools, implements, and decorations excavated from Okinoshima, there are many rich and wonderful attractions.

The shrine registered as a World Heritage site. The main shrine, "Henjūgu," enshrines the deities of "Okitsukuni" (the Second Shrine) and "Nakatsukuni" (the Third Shrine) as their spirit manifestations. The atmosphere within the shrine grounds is filled with tranquility and serenity. Inside the "Shinpōkan," approximately 80,000 national treasures are housed.