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Munakata Taisha is a UNESCO World Heritage shrine complex about 60 kilometers north of central Fukuoka, dedicated to three goddesses of the sea. The shrine system includes three separate locations: one on the mainland, one on Oshima island, and one on the sacred island of Okinoshima (closed to the public).
Munakata Taisha's origins predate recorded history, with worship at Okinoshima island documented from the 4th century. The treasures offered to the sea goddesses on Okinoshima — including over 80,000 artifacts — earned it the nickname 'Shosoin of the Sea.' The island of Okinoshima remains completely closed to the public to preserve its sanctity.