Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Cultural: ii, iii, iv, vi
Reference	1142
Inscription	2004 (28th Session)

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the Kii Peninsula in Japan.

Selection criteria

The locations and paths for this heritage site were based on their historical and modern importance in religious pilgrimages. It was also noted for its fusion of Shinto and Buddhist beliefs, and a well documented history of traditions over 1,200 years. The nature scenery on the Kii peninsula was also taken into consideration, with its many streams, rivers and waterfalls. Technically, independent structures at nominated temples and shrines were nominated for this distinction, and not the entire establishments. Sections of the trails were included for this nomination, but not the full length of their expanses. A total of 242 elements were selected from sites and pilgrimage routes for nomination.

List of sites

Area	Cultural asset	Type	Location	Picture
Yoshino and Ōmine	Mount Yoshino (吉野山, Yoshino-yama)	natureMountain	nara yoshino yoshinoYoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken
Yoshino and Ōmine	Yoshino Mikumari Shrine (吉野水分神社, Yoshino-mikumari-jinja)	shrineShinto shrine	nara yoshino yoshinoYoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken
Yoshino and Ōmine	Kimpu Shrine (金峯神社, Kimpu-jinja)	shrineShinto shrine	nara yoshino yoshinoYoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken
Yoshino and Ōmine	Kimpusen-ji (金峯山寺, Kimpusen-ji)	temple shugendo buddhistShugendō/Buddhist temple	nara yoshino yoshinoYoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken
Yoshino and Ōmine	Yoshimizu Shrine (吉水神社, Yoshimizu-jinja)	shrineShinto shrine	nara yoshino yoshinoYoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken
Yoshino and Ōmine	Ōminesan-ji (大峯山寺, Ōminesan-ji)	temple shugendoShugendō temple	nara yoshino tenkawaTenkawa-mura, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Kumano Hongū Taisha (熊野本宮大社, Kumano Hongū Taisha)	shrineShinto shrine	wakayama tanabeTanabe-shi, Wakayama-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Kumano Hayatama Taisha (熊野速玉大社, Kumano Hayatama Taisha)	shrineShinto shrine	wakayama mieShingū-shi, Wakayama-ken; Kiho-chō, Minamimuro-gun, Mie-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Kumano Nachi Taisha (熊野那智大社, Kumano Nachi Taisha)	shrineShinto shrine	wakayama higashimuro nachikatsuuraNachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Seiganto-ji (青岸渡寺, Seiganto-ji)	temple tendaiTendai Buddhist temple	wakayama higashimuro nachikatsuuraNachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Nachi Falls (那智滝, Nachi no Taki)	natureWaterfall	wakayama higashimuro nachikatsuuraNachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Nachi Primeval Forest (那智原始林, Nachi Genjirin)	natureForest	wakayama higashimuro nachikatsuuraNachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Fudarakusan-ji (補陀洛山寺, Fudarakusan-ji)	temple tendaiTendai Buddhist temple	wakayama higashimuro nachikatsuuraNachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kōyasan	Niutsuhime Shrine (丹生都比売神社, Niutsuhime-jinja)	shrineShinto shrine	wakayama ito katsuragiKatsuragi-chō, Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kōyasan	Kongōbu-ji (金剛峯寺, Kongōbu-ji)	temple shingonShingon Buddhist temple	wakayama ito koyaKōya-chō, Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kōyasan	Jison-in (慈尊院, Jison-in)	temple shingonShingon Buddhist temple	wakayama ito kudoyamaKudoyama-chō, Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kōyasan	Niukanshōfu Shrine (丹生官省符神社, Niukanshōfu-jinja)	shrineShinto shrine	wakayama ito kudoyamaKudoyama-chō, Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken
Pilgrimage Routes	Ōmine Okugakemichi (大峯奥駈道, Ōmine Okugakemichi)	trailTrail	wakayama naraVillages between Nara and Wakayama prefectures
Pilgrimage Routes	Kumano Sankeimichi (熊野参詣道) Nakahechi (中辺路), including Kumano River (熊野川) Kohechi (小辺路) Ōhechi (大辺路) Iseji (伊勢路)	trailTrail	wakayama mieAcross Mie and Wakayama prefectures
Pilgrimage Routes	Kōyasan chōishi-michi (高野山町石道, Kōyasan Chōishimichi)	trailTrail	wakayama itoVillages in Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken

See also

• Tourism in Japan
• List of World Heritage Sites in Japan

References

• ICOMOS (2004). Advisory Body Evaluation. Retrieved on 2009-07-27.
• Agency for Cultural Affairs (2003). Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, and the Cultural Landscapes that Surround Them. Retrieved on 2009-07-27.