Consisting of three sacred sites located in the dense
forests of southern mainland Japan, the Sacred Sites and
Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range were
inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2004. Yoshino and
Omine, Kumano Sanzan, and Koyasan are pilgrimage
routes connecting to ancient capital cities Nara and
Kyoto. These sites are rooted in the fusion of Shintoism
and Buddhism. Shintoism illustrates nature worship in
Japan, while Buddhism was introduced to the country by
the Chinese and Korean peninsulas. The surrounding
area reflects the tradition of sacred mountains and the
development of religious culture in Japan over the past
1,200 years.
Rich with beautiful streams and waterfalls, the Sacred
Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
draw 15 million visitors annually for hiking and ritual
purposes. Each site contains shrines, the oldest founded
during the 9th century. The Kii Mountain’s unique forms
of shrines and temples later created a strong influence on
the future construction of temples and shrines elsewhere
in Japan. These sites are authentic structure-wise and
spiritually. Each wooden building holds a long tradition of
reconstructing timber structures with its well-preserved
design, materials, and technique. A high level of spiritual
authenticity has been maintained due to its various rituals
(mainly Shinto and Buddhist related) continuously
practiced. Given its cultural and religious landscape, the
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain
Range hold a high level of integrity and authenticity.
