Visit Yoshino/Omine area of Kii Mountains, Japan (UNESCO site)

Add to My List Check Off

The Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the Kii Peninsula in Japan. 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. 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. The main features of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range incorporates three sacred sites across Nara, Wakayama and Mie prefectures: "Yoshino/Omine", "Kumano Sanzan", " Kōyasan" and the pilgrimage routes that connect them. Yoshino and Omine, situated at the northernmost part of the Kii Mountains, developed as a sacred place for Shugendo, a religion established by combining the original mountain worship of Japan, Tantric Buddhism, and Taoism around the 12th century. The followers seclude themselves in the mountains and perform ascetic practices. The area consists of steep mountains reaching altitudes of over 1,000m, and is divided into two parts. North of Mt. Aonegamine of the Omine Mountains, which is the water divide of the Kii Mountains, is called "Yoshino" and south of it is called "Omine". Yoshino is famous as a mountain cherry blossom beauty area. In Kinpusen-ji Temple, the central temple of Shugendo, a large meeting is held for people to confess their sins, and an offering of cherry blossoms is given in April every year. The ancient pilgrimage routes connecting these sites are locally called the Kumano Kodo and one of only two UNESCO World Heritage registered pilgrimage routes in the world, one other being the Santiago e Compostela. The coastal trails are gone, but the mountain trails are still visible. They are Nakahech, Ohechi, Iseji, Kohechi and Omine Okugake. Nakahechi is hilly, but it is easy to walk on. The trail culminates at Hongu Taisha. The Ohechi trail is barely visible now, but during the 15th century thousands of pilgrims crossed it. The Iseji trail joins the Ise Shrine to the Kumano. "Kumano Sanzan" & " Kōyasan" are covered in related dreams.

5.0 out of 5 Write a Review

No Ratings Yet

Flag as inappropriate ›