As documented in Japan's second-oldest book, Nihon Shoki, the shrines are devoted to the three Munakata goddesses (宗像三女神, Munakata-sanjojin).

These kami are believed to be daughters of the goddess Amaterasu, the ancestress of the imperial family or to be the daughters of Susanoo, who has also been worshipped there for many years as the god of mariners, and he has come to be worshipped as the god of traffic safety on land as well.

[3] The final shrine, Okitsu-gū, is on the island of Okinoshima located in the middle of the Genkai Sea.

[4] In 2009 the three shrines were submitted for future inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the serial nomination Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in Munakata Region.

[5][6][7] In July, 2017 Japan's Okinoshima Island gained UNESCO World Heritage Status.