Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Mount Kōya (Kōyasan)
Location	Kii Peninsula, Japan
Criteria	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)
Reference	1142bis
Inscription	2004 (28th Session)
Extensions	2016
Area	506.4 ha (1,251 acres)
Buffer zone	12,100 ha (30,000 acres)
Coordinates	33°50′13″N 135°46′35″E

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 (吉野山よしのやま, Yoshino-yama)	natureMountain	nara yoshino yoshinoYoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken
Yoshino and Ōmine	Yoshino Mikumari Shrine (吉野よしの水分すいぶん神社じんじゃ, Yoshino-mikumari-jinja)	shrineShinto shrine	nara yoshino yoshinoYoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken
Yoshino and Ōmine	Kimpu Shrine (金きむ峯みね神社じんじゃ, Kimpu-jinja)	shrineShinto shrine	nara yoshino yoshinoYoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken
Yoshino and Ōmine	Kimpusen-ji (金峯山こんごうざん寺てら, Kimpusen-ji)	temple shugendo buddhistShugendō/Buddhist temple	nara yoshino yoshinoYoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken
Yoshino and Ōmine	Yoshimizu Shrine (吉水よしみず神社じんじゃ, Yoshimizu-jinja)	shrineShinto shrine	nara yoshino yoshinoYoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken
Yoshino and Ōmine	Ōminesan-ji (大峯おおみね山寺やまでら, Ōminesan-ji)	temple shugendoShugendō temple	nara yoshino tenkawaTenkawa-mura, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Kumano Hongū Taisha (熊野くまの本宮ほんぐう大社たいしゃ, Kumano Hongū Taisha)	shrineShinto shrine	wakayama tanabeTanabe-shi, Wakayama-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Kumano Hayatama Taisha (熊野くまの速玉はやたま大社たいしゃ, Kumano Hayatama Taisha)	shrineShinto shrine	wakayama mieShingū-shi, Wakayama-ken; Kiho-chō, Minamimuro-gun, Mie-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Kumano Nachi Taisha (熊野くまの那智なち大社たいしゃ, Kumano Nachi Taisha)	shrineShinto shrine	wakayama higashimuro nachikatsuuraNachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Seiganto-ji (青あお岸きし渡わたる寺てら, Seiganto-ji)	temple tendaiTendai Buddhist temple	wakayama higashimuro nachikatsuuraNachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Nachi Falls (那智滝なちだき, Nachi no Taki)	natureWaterfall	wakayama higashimuro nachikatsuuraNachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Nachi Primeval Forest (那智なち原始げんし林りん, Nachi Genjirin)	natureForest	wakayama higashimuro nachikatsuuraNachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kumano Sanzan	Fudarakusan-ji (補ほ陀洛山寺やまでら, Fudarakusan-ji)	temple tendaiTendai Buddhist temple	wakayama higashimuro nachikatsuuraNachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kōyasan	Niutsuhime Shrine (丹生にゅう都と比ひ売うり神社じんじゃ, Niutsuhime-jinja)	shrineShinto shrine	wakayama ito katsuragiKatsuragi-chō, Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kōyasan	Kongōbu-ji (金剛峯寺こんごうぶじ, Kongōbu-ji)	temple shingonShingon Buddhist temple	wakayama ito koyaKōya-chō, Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kōyasan	Jison-in (慈尊院じそんいん, Jison-in)	temple shingonShingon Buddhist temple	wakayama ito kudoyamaKudoyama-chō, Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken
Kōyasan	Niukanshōfu Shrine (丹生たんじょう官省かんしょう符ふ神社じんじゃ, Niukanshōfu-jinja)	shrineShinto shrine	wakayama ito kudoyamaKudoyama-chō, Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken
Pilgrimage Routes	Ōmine Okugakemichi (大峯おおみね奥おく駈か道みち, Ōmine Okugakemichi)	trailTrail	wakayama naraVillages between Nara and Wakayama prefectures
Pilgrimage Routes	Kumano Sankeimichi (熊野くまの参詣さんけい道どう) Nakahechi (中辺路なかへじ), including Kumano River (熊野川くまのがわ) Kohechi (小しょう辺あたり路ろ) Ōhechi (大だい辺あたり路ろ) Iseji (伊勢路いせじ)	trailTrail	wakayama mieAcross Mie and Wakayama prefectures
Pilgrimage Routes	Kōyasan chōishi-michi (高野山こうのやま町まち石道いしみち, 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 2014-05-04.
• Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in The Kii Mountain Range - UNESCO website (2004) [1] Retrieved on 2018-11-4.