The shichido were administrative areas that followed the main roads (including water channels) which stretched away from the capital in all directions, and consisted of Tokaido, Tosando, Hokurikudo, Sanindo, Sanyodo, Nankaido and Saikaido.
七道は京を中心にして四方にのびる幹線交通路（水路も含む）に沿った行政区分で、東海道・東山道・北陸道・山陰道・山陽道・南海道・西海道である。