Fushimi was a key point to enter Kyoto from the Tokai-do Road, and in Sankin-kotai (daimyo's alternate-year residence in Edo), it was prohibited to proceed to the Kyoto side from Fushimi, to prevent daimyo from making contact with the Imperial court.
東海道から京に入る要所であり、大名と朝廷を近づけないために、参勤交代の途中で伏見より京側に進むことは認められていなかった。