⛩️ Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range: Kumano Sanzan
UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising three grand Shinto shrines in Wakayama Prefecture
📌 Fast Facts
- UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 2004)
- Three primary shrines: Kumano Hongū Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha
- Kumano Hongū Taisha dates to at least the 9th century, with origins in ancient nature worship traditions
- Connected by the Kumano Kodō pilgrimage network, in continuous use for over 1,200 years
The Kumano Sanzan comprises three grand shrines located within the Kii Mountains of Wakayama Prefecture in central Japan ...