San'yōdō, Ancient transportation route in Chūgoku, Japan.
San'yōdō is an ancient transportation route running along the Seto Inland Sea side of western Honshū, connecting provinces from Harima through to Nagato. The path winds through mountainous terrain and was later mirrored by modern roads and railway lines that follow similar corridors today.
San'yōdō began during the Asuka period from 538 to 710 as one of the essential parts of the Gokishichidō system. This network connected eight provinces and became the foundation for long-distance travel across early medieval Japan.
The name San'yōdō comes from Japanese geography, referring to the sunny side of the central mountains, distinguishing it from the San'in region opposite. People traveling this route historically understood these names as simple directions based on the mountain's position.
Today's travelers can follow the historical path by using Route 2, the San'yō Expressway, or the San'yō Main Line railway operated by West Japan Railway. These modern transportation networks trace the same geographic corridors as the original ancient route.
The original route spanned about 350 kilometers from Kyoto through smaller towns like Fushimi, Yodo, and Yamazaki before reaching larger centers like Hyōgo and Hagi. This specific path reveals how merchants and officials actually moved between important settlements in medieval times.
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