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SEP 7 2017

The appeal of the cultural heritage "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range"

The Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range is the 12th UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan. It is a cultural heritage site consisting of three sacred sites (Kumano Sanzan, Mount Koya, Kumano Pilgrimage Route, etc.) that span Wakayama, Nara, and Mie prefectures. We will introduce the charm of this sacred site that has attracted people's faith since ancient times and the highlights recommended by our editorial team.

Map of "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range"

A review of the criteria for registering World Heritage sites. The year of registration and access for "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range"

Registered in: 2004
World Heritage Type: Cultural Heritage
Registration criteria:
• It represents a significant exchange of human values in the development of architecture, technology, monuments, town planning and landscape architecture over a given period or in a given cultural area of the world.
- They bear unique or rare testimony to a cultural tradition or a civilisation, still living or now extinct.
- It is an outstanding example of an architectural style or of an architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates an important stage in human history.
- It has a direct or tangible association with an event, living tradition, idea, belief or artistic or literary work of outstanding universal value (although this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with the other criteria).
Access: Mount Koya is about 60.7 km from Kansai International Airport, and about 1 hour and 40 minutes by car.

What are the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range"? A sacred land with a long history as a holy place for various religions

画像: 「紀伊山地の霊場と参詣道」とは?様々な宗教の聖地として長い歴史を持つ神聖な土地

The Kii Mountain Range, a chain of mountains with elevations of 1,000m to 2,000m, has been revered as a sacred place of nature worship since ancient times. Over the years, it has become the subject of various faiths, including Shinto, Buddhism, and Shugendo. The Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, which was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2004, consists of three sacred sites located in the Kii Mountain Range (Kumano Sanzan, Mount Koya, and Yoshino-Omine) and the pilgrimage routes leading to the sacred sites.

The appeal of "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range"

Surrounded by majestic mountains and beautiful forests, the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" are dotted with a variety of sights. The most representative of these is the Kumano Kodo, a pilgrimage route to the Kumano Sanzan (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha) that has been walked by many travelers since ancient times. The Kumano Kodo has several routes, but Nakahechi, which runs from Tanabe to Kumano Hongu, is a pilgrimage route that was once walked by Emperor Gotoba, Fujiwara Teika, and Izumi Shikibu. The walking route, which features stone-paved roads and cedar groves, is filled with the tranquil atmosphere unique to pilgrimage routes.

Of course, there are many other attractions in the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" besides the Kumano Kodo. If you want to enjoy the vast World Heritage Sites, we recommend taking your time to explore them or splitting them into several trips. Kumano Sanzan, Mount Koya, Yoshino-Omine... Take your time to savor the mystical atmosphere that resides in each sacred site.

The highlights of Mount Koya, a "holy land in the sky"

画像1: まるで「天空の聖地」、高野山の見どころ

Among the three sacred sites that make up the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range," Mount Koya is the one that has the strongest atmosphere of a sacred place far removed from the secular world. This religious city, located in the mountains and surrounded by mountains over 1,000 meters high, is truly a place that can be described as a "holy place in the sky."

画像2: まるで「天空の聖地」、高野山の見どころ

Mount Koya was founded by Kobo Daishi Kukai at the beginning of the Heian period and celebrated its 1,200th anniversary in 2015. The entire mountain is a single sacred area known as Kongobu-ji Temple, the head temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect. Over 100 temples are scattered across the vast mountain, with the two central sacred sites being Danjo Garan and Okunoin. Danjo Garan is home to such sights as the Kondo, the main hall of Mount Koya, the 48.5m-tall Konpon Daito Pagoda, and the Goei-do Hall, where Kobo Daishi is said to have lived.
Additionally, Okunoin, the place where Kobo Daishi entered Nirvana, is a sacred place dotted with beautiful shrine paths surrounded by cedar groves and Gobyō Bridge.

Other attractions at Mount Koya include the Daimon Gate, Chumon Gate, the Tokugawa family mausoleum, and Kongobu-ji Temple (this is not the whole of Mount Koya, but a single temple), as well as numerous lodgings, restaurants, souvenir shops, and more. The area has expanded as a city centered around faith.

画像3: まるで「天空の聖地」、高野山の見どころ

If you want to see all the main sights of Mount Koya, we recommend staying overnight at a temple lodging within the mountain. However, it is possible to see the main sights on a day trip, so plan it according to your travel schedule. Take your time to enjoy the charm of this religious city, isolated from the world below.

Experience the culture of Mount Koya through the "Ajikan" experience

画像: 「阿字観」体験で、高野山の文化に触れる

If you want to enjoy the charms of this "holy land in the sky," which has been a place of prayer since ancient times, we recommend experiencing the culture that lives on in this sacred place through experiences such as Ajikan, copying sutras, and receiving precepts. Ajikan is a meditation technique passed down in Shingon Buddhism, and can be experienced at Kongobu-ji Temple. By meditating while looking at the Sanskrit character "A," the aim is to get closer to enlightenment. Ajikan can be experienced at Kongobu-ji Temple and temple lodgings. It is sure to be a memorable experience that is quintessential to your trip to Mount Koya.

Mount Koya has around 50 lodging temples, each with its own unique character. Enjoy vegetarian cuisine, view beautiful gardens, copy sutras... One of the great attractions is being able to experience the quietness of Mount Koya at night. In addition to these, there are a variety of experience programs, including forest therapy, which involves walking through the forests of Mount Koya, and flower arranging classes. You will be able to experience the charm of the "Holy Land in the Sky" in a deeper and more enjoyable way.

The best season to visit Mount Koya is October to November.

The coming period, when the heat is easing, is the best season to visit Mount Koya. Also, from October to November, Mount Koya is colored with beautiful autumn leaves. Please enjoy a trip to Mount Koya, one of the constituent assets of the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range."

画像: 文化遺産「紀伊山地の霊場と参詣道」の魅力

Travel writer/Toru Yoshihara

The "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" are made up of numerous pilgrimage routes that are centered around three sacred sites. If you want to experience walking the pilgrimage route at Mt. Koya, we recommend the Koyasan Choishimichi trail, which runs from Jison-in Temple at the foot of Mt. Koya through the Daimon gate and heads for the Konpon Daito Pagoda of Mt. Koya. You'll be able to feel the atmosphere of this sacred place that has been carefully protected as a pilgrimage site since ancient times!

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*Some content was updated on September 17, 2019.

The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.

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