Since ancient times the Pass has been known as one of chokepoints in main roads of Rakuhoku (Northern Kyoto), and as the name Kurama (a Japanese ghost) suggests, it is said to be a pass which various ghosts and monsters had gathered.
古くから洛北の街道筋でも難所としてその名を知られており、鞍馬という名からも分かるとおり魑魅魍魎が現れる峠と伝えられる。