Concave rail-shaped granites, called “Kuruma-ishi” (literally, Kurumaa wheel and ishi stone) are found around the three high ways on the outskirts of Kyoto-City. These are very rare remnants of the. trans portation facility in Japan.
1. Kuruma-ishi were constructed at the end of the 16th century and used as a substitute for a rail in order to have easier passages of ox and horse carts until the middle of the 19th century.
2. Roadways for carts were distinguished from those for plan. Roadways for carts were single and carts could pass only in one direction at one time. For example, all carts could enter the city in the morning and, come back only in the afternoon.
3. Kuruma-ashy lost its original form of a single track in the city where they changed to paving stones covering all over the roads. This may be result of heavy traffic in the city. Carts in those days go along on a river-bed, not on a.bridge, in the outside of the city area.
