roadside distance marker; chō stone
Historical stone markers placed along roads at intervals of one chō (about 109 meters). Often found on old highways and pilgrimage routes.
See also: 町
Chō stones still remain along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route.
This distance marker was placed in the Edo period.
Standard kanji spelling for these distance markers.
Variant kanji spelling; 丁 can be used for the unit chō.
Compound of 町 (chō, a unit of distance) and 石 (ishi, stone). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but such markers were used from at least the Edo period.