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…In terms of operation, there are regular routes where ships operate regularly and irregular routes where ships operate irregularly. In addition, depending on the type and size of the ships mainly sailing, they are called cargo ship routes, tanker routes, passenger ship routes, large ship routes, small ship routes, etc., and in relation to the navigation area, they are also called ocean routes, coastal routes, coastal routes, and flat water routes. In Japan, the name route began to be used after the Meiji period, and in the Edo period, the word "mawari" was used. For example, the route between Edo and Osaka was called "Omote-mawari" and the route from around Akita to Osaka was called "Kita-mawari." In the age of sailing ships, there were strong natural constraints and the number of days required was uncertain, so regular operation was not possible, but routes were operated in the form of a certain number of voyages per year. …

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "omote mawari" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…運用上からは船が定期的に運航する定期航路と不定期に運航する不定期航路があり，そのほか，主として航行する船舶の船種，大きさによって，貨物船航路，タンカー航路，客船航路，大型船航路，小型船航路などと，また，航行区域と関連づけて遠洋航路，近海航路，沿海航路，平水航路などと慣用的に呼称されることもある。　日本で航路という名称が用いられるようになったのは明治以降であり，江戸時代には〈回り〉という言葉が使われ，例えば，江戸～大坂間は〈表回り〉，秋田付近から大坂へは〈北前回り〉などと呼ばれていた。帆船時代には自然的制約が強く，所要日数が不確定のため，定時運航はできなかったが，年間何航海という形で運航されていた。…

※「表回り」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報