Okawara was based at Inadani, so going north would bring you, via Hase (one of the death sites mentioned later), to Suwa (home of the Suwa clan), while going south would bring you to Iinoya (home of the Ii clan); given the unfavorable situation they were in, it was an ideal place for the Southern Court, and it was common for samurai of the Southern Court, such as those in the Nitta clan, to escape to this place after losing a battle.
拠点となった大河原は伊那谷に属し、南に下れば井伊谷（井伊氏）、北上すると長谷（後述する終焉の地の一つ）を経由して諏訪（諏訪氏）に通じる位置にあり、劣勢が続く南朝方にとっては最重要拠点となり、各地で破れた南朝方の武士達（新田一門など）が逃げ込む事も多かった。