KII MOUNTAIN RANGE

The sacred site Yoshino and Omine can be found on and around Yoshinoyama Mountain, and its adjoining area of steep mountains, located at the center of the Kii Mountain Range. The mountains themselves are part of a cluster known as the Omine Range and are revered as objects of ancient mountain worship. They still retain a trove of cultural artifacts related to Shintoism and the Shugen sect, having long been a focal area for asceticism. The Yoshino area itself is the area of Yoshinoyama Mountain and is renowned for its cherry blossom and a cultural landscape that quintessentially represents and describes the Japanese aesthetic. The Omine area, located to the south of the Yoshino area, refers to the area that connects Yoshino and Kumano Sanzan. This site is also famous as a principal place for the 'okugake' asceticism central to the Shugen sect. Since the 10th century the Yoshino and Omine site came to be regarded as the showcase for all the sacred mountain sites that were subsequently developed in various places around Japan.

Yoshinoyama Mountain Area
A sacred site, associated with mountain worship, the Shugen sect's asceticism, and very famous for cherry blossom.

Kimpusen-ji Temple
Central temple of the Shugen sect.

Omine Okugakemichi (Route)
This route, along which Shugen practitioners seek enlightenment, connects Yoshino and Omine to Kumano Sanzan Mountains.

Ominesan-ji Temple
A mountaintop place of worship with a temple and ruins where, according to legend, the highest Shugen deity once appeared.

Tamaki-jinja Shrine
This shrine, located on the Omine Okugakemichi Route, originated from the ancient tradition of mountain-worship.

Kumano Sankeimichi Kohechi (Path)

	Hanging Bridge of Tanise The longest wire-suspension bridge in Japan.
	Dorogawa Hot Springs Village A soothing village hot springs used since olden times by weary travelers climbing the Omine Mountains.