Munakata Shrine

Munakata Taisha is a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising three shrines dedicated to the three Munakata goddesses of the sea. Hetsu-gu, on the Fukuoka mainland, is the most accessible and where most visitors start. Its forested grounds and graceful honden sit near the coast. Nakatsu-gu stands on the small island of Oshima, a short ferry ride away, offering a wilder, more remote shrine experience with coastal hiking trails. The most sacred component, Okitsu-gu, sits on the remote island of Okinoshima, 60km offshore. Okinoshima is completely off-limits to tourists (and has been for centuries) but the 80,000 ritual artifacts discovered there, dating from the 4th to 9th centuries, are displayed at the Shinpokan treasure hall at Hetsu-gu. The Uminomichi Munakatakan Museum across from Hetsu-gu provides excellent context on the maritime worship traditions that earned the site its UNESCO designation. Plan for Hetsu-gu plus the museum, and add the Oshima ferry for a half-day experience.