The section north of Sanjo-dori Street was widened during the Meiji and Taisho periods and served as the main north-south street; however, in the section south of Sanjo-dori Street the role has been taken over by the route once held by Kyoto City Trams, diverging to Koin-dori Street and continuing into Omiya-dori Street south from Shijo-dori Street.
三条通以北は明治から大正にかけて拡幅されているが、三条以南は南北の主要な通りとしての機能は、京都市電の経路そのままに後院通を経て四条通以南で大宮通へとつながる。