Although the importance of the Higashi Koya-kaido road declined after the Heian period, it became crowded with people at the entrance to Mt. Koya as visitors to Mt. Koya increased due to the spread of the Buddhist belief among the general public.
その後は官道としての重要性は薄れたものの、仏教信仰の一般化に伴い、高野山参りが盛んになると参拝道として賑わうようになった。