Kumano, located in the southern region of the Kii Peninsula and spanning Wakayama and Mie prefectures, is famous for the three shrines known as the Kumano Sanzan: Hongu Taisha, Nachi Taisha and Hayatama Taisha. There is no region officially called Kumano today. The name dates back to prehistoric times and means a deep sacred land. For over 1,000 years, countless Japanese people have made their pilgrimage to Kumano Sanzan via walking trails, called Kumano Kodo. In 2004, Kumano’s religious treasures and the routes, including Koyasan and Yoshino areas, were registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.