(CNN) — Only men can put the mystical Okinoshima on their UNESCO World Heritage Sites must-see list.
The sacred Japanese island, among several added in 2017 to the prestigious list of monuments with historical significance, is prohibited to women.
Steeped in the traditions of Japan's ancient Shinto belief system, Okinoshima has been revered by Japanese seafarers since the fourth century CE.
Tens of thousands of artifacts from across the world, kept on the island as ritual offerings over centuries, are evidence of the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Okinoshima is worshipped for its kami -- or divine being -- and access is ordinarily prohibited to all except Shinto priests.