Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range



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Walk the Sacred Paths of Kii Mountain Range, Japan

The Kii Mountain Range is located to the south of Kyoto and Nara, ancient capital cities that ruled Japan for over 1300 years. The mountains occupy most of the area known as the Kii Peninsula, a landmass that juts outwards into the Pacific Ocean. The mountains are covered with a dense blanket of green forest and have been Japan's spiritual heartland through the ages, a sacred place to where, it is said, the gods of Shintoism and Buddhism descended to reside. Over time, three mountain areas in particular, Yoshino-Omine, Kumano Sanzan and Koyasan, came to be revered as sacred places associated with certain religious groups. Respectively, these were the Shugen sect of ascetic Buddhism, another sect practicing Shinto-Buddhist Syncreticism (the belief that Japan's traditional gods are incarnations of Buddhist deities), and the Shingon sect of esoteric Buddhism, each with their own distinct identity, yet interacting. Along the Omine Okugakemichi pilgrimage route, the strict 'okugake' training rituals of the Shugen sect continue to be practiced and the Kumano Sankeimichi and Koyasan Choishimichi pilgrimage routes also draw large numbers of people seeking such paths to enlightenment.All of these have had a profound influence on the formation of Japan's spiritual culture. The three aforementioned sacred sites and three pilgrimage routes, located in the mountain range amid "cultural landscapes" of nature and religious faith, play an important role in Japan's cultural heritage and together represent the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range".

Pilgrimage Routes The growing number of pilgrims coming to the three sacred sites led to the construction of three connecting pilgrimage routes: The Omine Okugakemichi, the Kumano Sankeimichi and the Koyasan Choishimichi, ('michi' meaning path or route). Omine Okugakemichi is the route between the two main sacred sites, Yoshino and Omine and Kumano Sanzan. This is the route along which the austere 'okugake' asceticism is conducted, a training of great importance for Shugen sect followers. The Kumano Sankeimichi is the route that leads to Kumano Sanzan, and consists of four sub-routes: the Nakahechi, the path that pilgrims from Kyoto have mainly used, Kohechi, the path that runs longitudinally through the Kii Mountain Range to Koyasan, Ohechi, the path along the southwest coast of the Kii Peninsula, and Iseji, the path that leads to Ise Shrine. Koyasan Choishimichi is the route between the top of Koyasan Mountain and Jison-in Temple at its base and gets its name from the familiar stone signposts, known as 'choishi' located along its length.

Kii Peninsula Tourism Promotion Council The World Heritage Inscription Promotions Association of Three Prefectures (The latter two organizations above consist of Nara, Wakayama and Mie Prefectures) Kansai Council

Visit Japan Campaign Headquarters Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Government of Japan Kinki District Transport Bureau All Rights Reserved,Copyright(c) 2004 Kansai Council.