霊地(れいち)

れいち
noun
sacred place; holy site; spiritual ground
formalgeography
1. sacred place; holy site; spiritual ground
A place considered to have spiritual significance or divine power, often associated with shrines, temples, or natural sites believed to house deities or spirits.
この山(やま)は古(ふる)くからの霊地(れいち)だ。
This mountain has been a sacred place since ancient times.
霊地(れいち)を巡(めぐ)る旅(たび)に出(で)た。
I set out on a journey visiting sacred places.
熊野(くまの)は日本(にほん)を代表(だいひょう)する霊地(れいち)のひとつで、多(おお)くの巡礼者(じゅんれいしゃ)が訪(おとず)れる。
Kumano is one of Japan's most renowned sacred places, and many pilgrims visit there.

Composed of 霊(れい) (spirit, soul) + 地(ち) (place, ground). Refers to locations believed to have spiritual power or divine significance in Shinto, Buddhism, or folk religion.

Cultural note

Japan has many famous 霊地(れいち), including mountain peaks, ancient forests, waterfalls, and temple/shrine complexes. These are often destinations for pilgrimage (巡礼(じゅんれい)) and spiritual practice (修行(しゅぎょう)). Examples include 高野山(こうやさん), 熊野(くまの), and 出羽三山(でわさんざん).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 聖地(せいち): holy land, sacred place — often used for both religious and secular "mecca" (e.g., anime pilgrimage sites)
  • 霊場(れいじょう): sacred place of worship — specifically a pilgrimage site, often part of a numbered circuit
  • 霊山(れいざん): sacred mountain

Related Words

Compare: 聖地(せいち) (holy land, sacred place)
Compare: 霊場(れいじょう) (sacred place of worship)
general
Added 2026.4.23 23:45 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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