Consequently, the number of the pilgrims from the eastern provinces increased, and this Kannon pilgrimage in the Kamigata area (area centering around Kyoto) came to be called the 'Saigoku Sanjusankasho;' it is believed that the Seiganto-ji Temple in the Kumano area of Kii Province became the first temple because many people made the pilgrimage to the three grand shrines (including the Seiganto-ji Temple) of Kumano first, that the Kegon-ji Temple in Mino Province became the thirty-third temple because of the easy access to the eastern provinces when returning home, and that the current route of the pilgrimage was decided in this way.
これにより東国の巡礼者が増え、この上方の観音巡礼が「西国三十三箇所」と言われるようになり、熊野詣から巡礼を始める人が多かったので第一番が紀伊国熊野の青岸渡寺に、東国への帰路に着きやすいということで第三十三番が美濃国の華厳寺という現在の巡礼順になったと考えられている。