With the ancient Tokai-do Road running in the northern part of Yamashina Ward as well as the Nara-kaido Road leading to Nara City, the ward has been a major traffic center since olden times.
区の北寄りを旧東海道が東西に走り、奈良方面への奈良街道も通じるなど、古くから交通の要衝であった。