Photo: Mainichi

Some 30,000 cherry trees of about 200 varieties are now in peak bloom on Mount Yoshino in this west Japan town, turning the UNESCO World Heritage mountain pink.

Source: Pink paradise: 30,000 blooming cherry trees blanket west Japan mountain

Photo: Unsplash

From floating golden temples to ancient pilgrim routes, there is much to be discovered.

Source: 7 Places you must visit when in Kansai, Japan

Photo: Wakayama Tourism Federation

Kansai’s national parks offer a famed cherry blossom-viewing site, pilgrimage routes over mountains and across gorges, sand dunes, and seascapes both rugged and peaceful.

Source: The National Parks of Kansai: From Mountain Trails Linking Holy Sites to Seascapes Both Rugged and Peaceful

Photo credit: Basico / Shutterstock

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Photo source: GaijinPot

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Surrounded by eight peaks and suspended high in the mountains, Koya-san’s 117 temples evoke a spiritual experience like none other.

Source: Japan’s secluded world of temples

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about hiking the Kumano Kodo in Japan. Understand the different routes, what gear you need, and more!

Source: Everything you need to know about hiking the Kumano Kodo in Japan

Kumano Kodo [Old Road] is one of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range and is also registered as a World Heritage Site. Popular as a power spot, the writer walked this road so rich in history and natural beauty with a storyteller guide.

Source: Kansai Guide: Walk amidst the gods and nature on the old Kumano Kodo, a World Heritage Site – LIVE JAPAN

Visiting the Kii Mountain Range in Japan is easy—either day trip from Osaka or walk the sacred UNESCO sites along the pilgrimage route. Here’s how what you should know before you go.

Source: Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range