noun
part of a province closest to the capital
Archaic administrative term referring to the area of a province nearest to the capital, contrasted with 道の後 (the farthest part) and 道の中 (the middle part).
律令制では、道の口は都に近い地域を指した。
Under the ritsuryō system, 道の口 referred to the area of a province closest to the capital.