[2] They are connected to each other by the pilgrimage route known as Kumano Kodō (熊野古道).
[2] The great Kumano Sanzan complex also includes two Buddhist temples, Seiganto-ji and Fudarakusan-ji.
[3] The religious significance of the Kumano region goes back to prehistoric times and therefore predates all modern religions in Japan.
[2][4] The site became a unique example of shinbutsu-shūgō, the fusion between Buddhism and Japanese indigenous religion.
[3] The Kumano Sanzan site attracted many worshipers and became a popular pilgrimage destination.