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 / 33.83694°N 135.77639°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
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

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.

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v t e World Heritage Sites in Japan
Hokkaido	Shiretoko Jōmon Prehistoric Sites	Flag of Japan
Tōhoku	Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land Shirakami-Sanchi Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining Jōmon Prehistoric Sites
Kantō	The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier Shrines and Temples of Nikkō Ogasawara Islands Tomioka Silk Mill
Chūbu	Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining
Kansai	Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area Himeji Castle Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
Chūgoku	Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) Itsukushima Shinto Shrine Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining
Kyushu	Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining Yakushima Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region Amami-Ōshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island

v t e Kumano Faith
Main Deities	Kumano Gongen [ja]
Three Great Shrines	Kumano Nachi Taisha Kumano Hongū Taisha Kumano Hayatama Taisha Buddhist Temples Seiganto-ji Fudarakusan-ji Other Nachi Falls
Other Shrines	Naminoue Shrine Ōji Shrine Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range Kumano Kodō Aoyama Kumano Shrine Juniso Kumano Shrine Kumano Shrine (Yamagata)
Related Shrines	Oyama Shrine Kumano Taisha

Selection criteria

List of sites

See also

References