MENU
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanid Indonesianit Italianja Japaneseko Koreanpt Portuguesero Romanianru Russianes Spanishth Thai
en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanid Indonesianit Italianja Japaneseko Koreanpt Portuguesero Romanianru Russianes Spanishth Thai
en English

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

  1. Home
  2. Things to Do
  3. World Heritage Sites
Seigantoji Temple and Nachi Falls

The Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (紀伊山地の霊場と参詣道) is a cultural UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Kii Peninsula of Japan. The site includes three sacred sites, Kumano Sanzan, Yoshino-Omine, and Koyasan, and the pilgrimage routes that connect them.

The Kumano Sanzan, or the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano, are three Shinto shrines located in the southern part of the Kii Peninsula. The shrines are connected by a network of pilgrimage routes that have been used by pilgrims for over a thousand years.

The Yoshino-Omine area includes Mount Omine and its surrounding peaks, which have been considered sacred since ancient times. The area is associated with a syncretic Shinto-Buddhist tradition that emphasizes mountain worship and spiritual purification.

Koyasan, or Mount Koya, is a mountain plateau located in the northern part of the Kii Peninsula. It is the center of Shingon Buddhism, a sect of Buddhism that was founded in Japan in the 9th century. Koyasan is home to over a hundred temples and monasteries, as well as the mausoleum of the sect’s founder, Kobo Daishi.

The pilgrimage routes that connect these sacred sites have been used by pilgrims for centuries and are considered part of the cultural heritage of Japan. They include trails, stone steps, and bridges, as well as lodging and rest areas for pilgrims.

The Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2004. They offer visitors a chance to experience the spirituality and natural beauty of the Kii Peninsula and to learn about the traditional practices of mountain worship and pilgrimage in Japan.

TOC

Components

TOC
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanid Indonesianit Italianja Japaneseko Koreanpt Portuguesero Romanianru Russianes Spanishth Thai
en English