At nightfall, with no street lights along the way, traveling became difficult, if not hazardous. In order to assist travelers, stone lanterns were erected at each end of the post-towns to act as guiding beacons. They were lit at dusk and would remain burning until dawn – hence the name joyato or ‘all-night lights’. Similar lanterns were also found outside shrines. Many survive today, demarcating the limits of the original post-towns. Good examples are at Oi and Narai.
Narai
