Japan – Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region
Okinoshima is a sacred island in Japan that no woman can enter, and it has just become a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The ban of women may be due to an ancient Shinto belief that blood is impure and women who menstruate may risk offending the Goddess living on the sacred island.
Another possibility is that the goddess of the island would become jealous of other female visitors.
Currently, only a few people are allowed to visit the island and must bathe naked in the sea before entering its sacred grounds.
The island was recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to Okitsu Shrine, a Shinto shrine that is housed on the island.
Categories: Japan
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