Munakata Taisha Shrine on Okinoshima Island, Japan - the place associated with the legend of the three daughters of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu
Maintaining one of the strangest traditions in the world , the mysterious Okinoshima Island in Japan is associated with myths and legends. Notably, this place is only inhabited by men, women are strictly forbidden, although they worship the goddess of the sea.
Okinoshima Island, located off the coast of Munakata City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is revered by the local Munataka clan.
The island is very remote, 60km off the coast of Kyushu, with a landscape of steep cliffs, primeval forests and virtually no external infrastructure, except for a port.
Men allowed on the island must swim naked in the sea to perform a ritual to purify their souls.
Recognized as a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the island covers a total area of 700m2 . From the 4th to the 9th century, it is believed to have been a trading center between the Korean islands and China.
The entire island is worshiped as a Shinto god - an ancient Japanese religious belief, known as Shintoism.
Shinto beliefs hold that blood is impure and that women's menstruation pollutes the island. This is one theory that explains why women are not allowed here.
Only 200 men are allowed to visit the island once a year. Before arriving, they must bathe naked in the ocean, an act believed to purify their souls.
It is said that there is an interesting legend behind this island. Okinoshima Island is mentioned in Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, two of Japan's oldest historical texts.
According to the Kojiki, the Sun Goddess Amaterasu fashioned her three daughters from a sword and sent them to Japan, where the Munakata tribe worshiped them.
No one is allowed to take anything from the island, not even a blade of grass. During the visit, no one is allowed to discuss anything they see or hear. Monks, researchers, soldiers, and journalists are the only men allowed on the island.
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