Dark Pass - Kuragari Pass

A pass located almost in the center of the Ikoma mountain range on the border between Osaka and Nara prefectures. It is located at a saddle about 1.5 km south of the summit of Mt. Ikoma, and the Ankara-Nara Highway passes through it. It is 455 meters above sea level. It is the shortest route between Osaka and Nara, and in the early modern period it was a busy route for pilgrims from Osaka to Nara, Hase, and Ise, and there were many teahouses and inns along the way. However, in the Meiji period, the current JR Kansai Main Line and Kintetsu Nara Line were opened, and it gradually declined. The 40-meter-long, 1-meter-wide stone-paved road was covered with concrete in 1972 (Showa 47) during road widening work.

[Noboru Maeda]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大阪府と奈良県との境にある生駒(いこま)山地のほぼ中央にある峠。生駒山頂の南約1.5キロメートルの鞍部(あんぶ)にあり、暗越奈良街道が通る。標高455メートル。大阪と奈良を結ぶ最短コースで、近世には大坂から奈良、初瀬(はせ)、伊勢参詣(いせさんけい)路として往来が盛んで、茶屋、旅舎が多かったが、明治になって現在のJR関西本線、近畿日本鉄道奈良線が開通し、しだいに衰えた。延長40メートル、幅1メートルの石畳道は1972年（昭和47）の道路拡幅工事で周囲をコンクリートで固められた。

［前田　昇］

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