 Though the road originally terminated in the west at Hagi, the lords of Chōshū Domain at some point during the Edo period changed it to end at Yamaguchi.As might be expected, the road served an important strategic and logistical role in a number of military situations over the course of the years.Ashikaga Takauji in the 14th century, Akechi Mitsuhide in the 16th century, and many others used it to flee from conflict, to return to the core of the country ("kinai"), or to move troops.