Wakasa Kaido Road

The Wakasa Kaido was the busiest route in the Saba Kaido network during the Edo period, carrying salted mackerel from the port of Obama to Kyoto. The road ran from Obama north to Kumagawa-juku post town, over the Hozaka Pass, through Kutsuki and Ohara, and ended at Demachiyanagi in northern Kyoto. Historical records from Obama's market archives and Kumagawa-juku show hundreds of horses passing through and pilgrims overnight-stopping along the route. The road also served the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, connecting two of the 33 temples on the western Japan pilgrimage circuit dedicated to the bodhisattva of compassion.