Which Japanese peninsula occupies the central part of Honshu’s Kii region?

The Kii Peninsula is the Japanese peninsula occupying the central part of Honshu’s Kii region.

It extends southward from the Kansai area into the Pacific Ocean and includes much of Wakayama Prefecture, southern Mie Prefecture, and parts of Nara and Osaka prefectures. Its rugged terrain is dominated by the Kii Mountains, making transport historically difficult.

The peninsula is famous for the Kumano region and the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes. These routes connect major shrines including Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha, and Kumano Hayatama Taisha. The sacred sites and pilgrimage routes became a UNESCO World Heritage property in 2004.

The Kii Peninsula is sometimes confused with the Kii Mountains, but they are not identical terms: the peninsula is the larger geographic landform, while the mountains form its principal interior landscape. The Pacific coast also experiences heavy rainfall and typhoons.