Since ancient times Yamashina has always had a sizable amount of traffic, and the Hinooka-toge mountain pass over Mt.Higashi as well as the Osaka no Seki checking station toward the Otsu-juku Station are known as crossroads of the Tokaido Road.
山科周辺は古くから交通が盛んであり、東山を越える日ノ岡峠、大津宿へ抜ける逢坂関が東海道の要所として知られていた。