The route within the utaki is made of stone. Preserved as it was when it was first paved, the path feels rather narrow. However, since it was only open to the royal family, it was wide enough in those times.
Since becoming a World Heritage Site, however, 400,000 tourists visit annually, and the narrowness of the path can cause one to lose their footing and trample the surroundings. As a result, sandbags were stuffed into the sides of the stone path to support the stone pavement and prevent dirt from flowing out.
In order to preserve the beauty of this area, let’s try not to lose our footing as we walk along the path.