御嶽山 と 御嶽神社
御嶽神社は御嶽山の山頂にあります。神社と山頂は中津宮境内の一部で、本殿とは遊歩道で結ばれています。社殿は16世紀まで遡るもので、島内と沖ノ島を一望することができます。昔は、山頂の開けた場所で儀式が行われていました。これは辺津宮近くの高宮祭場や沖ノ島の祭場で儀式が行われていた時期と重なります。この古代の祭場は一般には立ち入り禁止で、神社の裏の木々の奥に隠れています。
御嶽山の山頂に最近建設された展望台からは、沖ノ島や北方の壱岐・対馬など玄界灘を一望できます。南の方向には福岡市と北九州市を眺められます。沖ノ島の位置を示す目印が地面にあります。
Mt. Mitake Observatory and Mitake Shrine
Mitake Shrine is located at the summit of Mt. Mitake. The shrine and summit are part of the Nakatsu-miya shrine precincts, connected to the main sanctuary by a walking path. The shrine buildings date to no later than the sixteenth century and have a commanding view over the island and towards Okinoshima. In earlier times, rituals were performed in a clearing on the mountaintop. These were performed during the same period that rituals were conducted at Takamiya Saijo ritual site near Hetsu-miya and at the ritual sites on Okinoshima. This ancient ritual site is off-limits to the public and tucked away in the trees behind the shrine.
A recently built observation platform on the summit of Mt. Mitake offers a sweeping view of the Genkai Sea, including Okinoshima and the islands of Iki and Tsushima to the north. The view to the south includes both Fukuoka City and Kitakyushu City. There is a marker on the ground to indicate the direction of Okinoshima.
