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Archipelago

    Okinoshima

    沖ノ島, Île Oki, Oki-no-shima

    34°15′N 130°06′E

    Okinoshima (沖ノ島, Okinoshima) is an island off the coast of Munakata, Fukuoka, Japan. It is considered sacred land by the local Munakata Taisha. The island's population consists of a single employee of the shrine.

    JR九州のクイーンビートルによるクルーズで眺めた沖ノ島
    JR九州のクイーンビートルによるクルーズで眺めた沖ノ島

    Indiana jo / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Terrain

    34°15′N 130°06′E

    Terrain exaggerated for relief. Drag to look around.

    Overview

    Okinoshima (沖ノ島, Okinoshima) is an island off the coast of Munakata, Fukuoka, Japan. It is considered sacred land by the local Munakata Taisha. The island's population consists of a single employee of the shrine. He is one of about two dozen Shinto priests who spend 10-day intervals on the island, praying and guarding against intruders. The entire island is considered a shinto kami, and the island is off limits to women. One proposed reason is that Shinto views blood as impure and menstruation would desecrate the island. For centuries, only 200 men were allowed on the island on one day each year after they had ritually purified themselves in the surrounding sea. The island covers area of 97 ha (240 acres) and has maximum elevation of approximately 244 m (801 ft).

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Chart

    Nearest islands

    Also in Japanese archipelago

    Also in Pacific Islands

    • New Guinea

      774,566 km²▲ 4,884 m

      Major islands

    • Japan

      377,974 km²

      Major islands

    • New Zealand

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      Major islands

    • Honshu

      227,970 km²▲ 3,776 m

      Major islands

    • Luzon

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    • Mindanao

      93,885 km²▲ 2,954 m

      Major islands

    • Hokkaido

      77,983 km²▲ 2,291 m

      Minor islands

    • Sakhalin

      74,571 km²▲ 1,609 m

      Minor islands

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Talus
    • Wikidata
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs