During Japan's middle ages, powerful and influential families or other groups, including the Imperial Court, the various warrior governments, lords of private estates, and powerful temples and shrines all established their own dedicated barrier stations, levying a "barrier toll" (also known as a "passage tax") at such barriers in order to make money.
中世には、朝廷や武家政権、荘園領主・有力寺社などの権門勢家がおのおの独自に関所を設置し、金儲けのため、関銭（通行税）を徴収した。