Ao-no-domon

During the Edo period, the construction of the Arasei Weir blocked the waters of the Yamakuni River, causing the water level to rise in the Hida and Ao areas. This caused people to walk along a very dangerous path built on the high cliffs of Kyoshuho, using iron chains as lifelines.

The monk Zenkai, who stopped off at Yabakei during a pilgrimage around the country, was saddened to see people and horses losing their lives on this dangerous road, so in Kyoho 20 (1735) he began carving out the rock walls himself.

Zenkai raised funds by begging for money, and together with hired stonemasons he continued digging using only chisels and hammers. After more than 30 years, in 1764, the first year of the Meiwa era, they completed the tunnel, which was 342m long (of which the tunnel section was 144m long).

A large memorial service was held in Kan'en 3 (1750) to commemorate the completion of the 1st stage of construction, and thereafter, tolls of 4 mon for people and 8 mon for horses and cattle were collected to cover the costs of construction, making this road Japan's first toll road.