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Kii Peninsula
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| State Party |  Japan |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, iv, vi |
| Identification | #1142 |
| Regionb | Asia-Pacific |
|
Inscription History |
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| Formal Inscription: | 2004 28th Session |
|
a Name as officially inscribed on the WH List |
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The Kii Peninsula (紀伊半島 Kii Hantō?) is one of the largest peninsulas on the island of Honshū in Japan. Wakayama Prefecture occupies much of the area, including the entire southern part. To the northwest of Wakayama is Osaka Prefecture, whose southern part is on the peninsula. East of Osaka is landlocked Nara Prefecture; farther east is Mie Prefecture.
The Inland Sea lies to the west of the Kii Peninsula. To the south is the Pacific Ocean.
Notable places in the Kii Peninsula include
- Nara, former capital city
- Mt. Koya (or Kōyasan), the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Buddhism
- Wakayama, former home of the Kii (or Kishu) Tokugawa family
- Matsusaka, center of major beef-producing area
- Ise, the location of the Grand Shrine of Ise and center of pearl production
- Iga, fabled for its ninja
- Yoshino, a wild region of heavily forested deep mountains, home of the Southern Imperial Court during the Namboku-cho period of Japanese history
- The Kumano region, home of the Kumano Shrines and the Nachi Waterfall
- Shiono Point, the southernmost point in Honshū
In 2004, UNESCO designated three locations on the Kii Peninsula as World Heritage Sites. They are
- Yoshino and Mount Omine, mountainous regions in the north of the peninsula
- Kumano Shrines, three shrines at the southern tip of the peninsula
- Mt. Koya, the holy mountain at the west of the peninsula
- Nanki-Shirahama Airport in Shirahama serves the southern part of the Kii Peninsula.
- Kisei Main Line connects Wakayama to Mie Prefecture and runs along the peninsula's coastline.
Buddhist Monuments, Horyu-ji Area | Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu | Himeji-jo | Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) | Itsukushima Shinto Shrine | Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Monuments of Ancient Nara | Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes, Kii Mountain Range | Shirakami-Sanchi | Shiretoko | Shrines and Temples of Nikkō | Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama | Yakushima