Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-06 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Munakata Taisha is the collective name for three shrines in the city of Munakata, northern Fukuoka — Hetsu-gū, Nakatsu-gū and Okitsu-gū — though the name is often used for Hetsu-gū alone, known locally as “Tajima-sama” after its district. It is the head of about 6,000 Munakata shrines across Japan. Nakatsu-gū lies 11 km from Hetsu-gū and Okitsu-gū 49 km, all on a straight line on the map, and Chikuzen-Ōshima also has a place of worship for Okitsu-gū from afar.
It is one of Japan's oldest shrines, with its history recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, and since ancient times it has been tied to the sea route for politics, trade and culture between Japan, the Asian continent and the Korean peninsula.
We have not checked a public-transport route or boats to the islands, so look for local information before you go.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Munakata-taisha, shaden — Saigen Jiro · CC0 · source · resized
- 宗像大社沖津宮 — Indiana jo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Munakata-taisha takahata — Tsuyoshi chiba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Munakata-taisha shimboku — Tsuyoshi chiba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Munakata-taisha sancai — Tsuyoshi chiba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Munakata-taisha ryutou — Tsuyoshi chiba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Munakata-taisha museum — Tsuyoshi chiba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Munakata-taisha haiden2 — Tsuyoshi chiba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Munakata-taisha haiden1 — Tsuyoshi chiba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Haiden of Munakata Grand Shrine (Nakatsu Shrine) — そらみみ (Soramimi) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Munakata Taisha (宗像大社) is the collective name for three Shinto shrines located in the city of Munakata, northern Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is the head of the approximately 6,000 Munakata shrines all over the country. Although the name Munakata Taisha refers to all three shrines—Hetsu-gū, Nakatsu-gū and Okitsu-gū—it is commonly used to refer to Hetsu-gū alone. Hetsumiya is located in Tajima, Munakata City, and is also known locally as "Tajima-sama." Chikuzen-Oshima also houses the Okitsumiya remote worship site (Etsumiya). Nakatsumiya, 11 km from Hetsumiya, and Okitsumiya, 49 km away, are all located in a straight line on a map. One of Japan's oldest shrines, with its history recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, it has served as a maritime route for politics, economics, and culture between the Asian continent and Korean peninsula since ancient times.
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-06 · Official visitor information
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Shrine
Getting there
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