Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

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

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Mount Kōya (Kōyasan)
LocationKii Peninsula, Japan
CriteriaCultural: (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)
Reference1142bis
Inscription2004 (28th Session)
Extensions2016
Area506.4 ha (1,251 acres)
Buffer zone12,100 ha (30,000 acres)
Coordinates33°50′13″N 135°46′35″E / 33.83694°N 135.77639°E / 33.83694; 135.77639

Selection criteria

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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

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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

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References

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