JAPAN - Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

"Set in the dense forests of the Kii Mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean, three sacred sites – Yoshino and Omine, Kumano Sanzan, Koyasan – linked by pilgrimage routes to the ancient capital cities of Nara and Kyoto, reflect the fusion of Shinto, rooted in the ancient tradition of nature worship in Japan, and Buddhism, which was introduced from China and the Korean Peninsula. The sites (495.3 ha) and their surrounding forest landscape reflect a persistent and extraordinarily well-documented tradition of sacred mountains over 1,200 years. The area, with its abundance of streams, rivers and waterfalls, is still part of the living culture of Japan and is much visited for ritual purposes and hiking, with up to 15 million visitors annually. Each of the three sites contains shrines, some of which were founded as early as the 9th century." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1: Koyasan

Fudo Hall at Mt. Koya

Thank you so much Hisako for sending me a UNESCO card

as an official postcrossing card!

Postcard 2-A: Yoshino

Cherry Blossoms, Yoshinoyama, Nara

Thank you so much Sandy for this wonderful postcard of Cherry Blossoms!
We also have our local cherry blossoms here in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines called "Balayong" which are in full bloom from Mid February-May... =)

Postcard 2-B: Yoshino

 

Thank you so much, Akiko for sending me this postcard!

I hope to see this one day!

Postcard 3: Yoshino

"This card shows the inside of Yoshimizu Shrine.
I saw this 2 weeks ago. It's very gorgeous!", shares Keiko.
Thank you so much for sharing this great postcard with me, Keiko!


LIST OF SITES:

A. Yoshino and Omine

- Mount Yoshino, mountain
-  Yoshino Mikumari Shrine, Shinto Shrine
-  Kimpu Shrine, Shinto Shrine
-  Kimpusen-ji, Shugendō/Buddhist temple
-  Yoshimizu Shrine, Shinto Shrine 
-  Ōminesan-ji, Shugendō Temple

B.  Kumano Sanzan

- Kumano Hongū Taisha, Shinto Shrine
- Kumano Hayatama Taisha, Shinto Shrine
-  Kumano Nachi Taisha, Shinto Shrine
-  Seiganto-ji, Tendai Buddhist Temple
-  Nachi Falls, Waterfall
- Nachi Primeval Forest, Forest
- Fudarakusan-ji, Tendai Buddhist Temple

 C. Kōyasan

-  Niutsuhime Shrine, Shinto Shrine
-  Kongōbu-ji,  Shingon Buddhist Temple
-  Jison-in, Shingon Buddhist Temple
-  Niukanshōfu Shrine, Shinto Shrine

D. Pilgrimage Routes

 - Ōmine Okugakemichi, Trail
- Kumano Sankeimichi, Trail
- Kōyasan chōishi-michi, Trail