It is said that they stand as such in consideration of both pilgrims who head for Yoshino from Kumano (south to north and those who head for Kumano from Yoshino (north to south).
これは、熊野から吉野へ（南から北へ）向かう巡礼者と吉野から熊野へ（北から南へ）向かう巡礼者の双方に配慮したためという。