It appears that the decision on the route depended on the relative gravity of guiltiness as 'gokasho hikimawashi' involved a graver punishment (the severest punishment to be carried out in the prison being beheading, and the gravest type of execution in those days such as burning at the stake and crucifixion being conducted in the execution sites).
コースの選定は、五ヶ所引廻の方が最終的に受ける刑罰が厳しいため（牢屋敷で行われる刑罰は獄門が最高刑であり、当時の極刑である火刑や磔は刑場で行われた）、罪状の軽重で決められていたようである。