Daiōren

The Daiōren road [大往迂; だいおうれん], roughly translating as 'great travel route', was the largest and most important of the main routes and roadways established in the 15th century. Its construction was officially completed in 1432. The route was essentially a circuit of Kanton's central region, connecting up to the old capital of Jūkei, and also allowing safe, regulated access to major cities in the mid-west.
== Traveling the Daiōren ==
In the 15th century, the standard method of travel was either on foot or horseback. Wheeled carts and wheelbarrows were considered 'lowly' and used only for carrying light cargo, such as one's possessions. The upper-classes travelled often by korami [従身], spacious palanquins which were led by carriers. The number of carriers often signified the importance of the traveler. By the 17th century, the merchant classes were using wheeled carriages called honza [轮去], which were led by draught horses. Until the 1600s, women were unable to travel alone and had to be accompanied by men; apparently for safety reasons, although this was abolished under the Monda administration in 1645. Other restrictions, which were particular to the national highways, were put in place but rarely enforced, such as cargo limitations.
Along the Daiõren [as with all national highways and regulated roads], there were government-sanctioned post-stations called koman catering for weary and hungry travelers. A number of useful facilities were provided, and important news concerning national travel could also be found there. The original Daiōren did not have any koman, as they were only introduced in the mid-1400s. The establishment of these rest stations caused some sections of the route to be changed, amended and improved.
Before entering each new province [areas governed by konbūshin which were smaller than modern-day prefectures], travellers had to pass through certain checkpoints. Unless one could provide an approved reason for their travel, one was not allowed to enter the region. Depending on the strictness of border control, travelers could sometimes be asked to present traveling permits. By the 1700s, traveling permits were required in order to enter any province, even one's home region.
Traversing certain areas of the Daiōren could also be expensive, as large, fast-flowing rivers forced travelers to pay ferryman to bring them across by boat. Steep mountain regions were often considered places of religious importance, and in order for any traveler to cross, they had to pay a toll to the local community of monks who inhabited the area. This toll was originally decided by the traveler themselves, and did not have to be monetary, but by the mid-1600s it was always a transaction of money.