The name "Sujikai" is said to come from this being a crossroads-the shogun's route from Edo Castle to the Kan'ei-ji Temple in Ueno crossed the Nakasendō Highway which started in Nihonbashi and ran towards Hongō. Including these two roads, a total of eight roads met here at various angles, leading to it being known as Yatsu-kōji (eight streets), but in fact there were more than ten roads meeting here. This area was at the border between the samurai district and the district of townspeople, and so there was the open space as a firebreak to prevent blazes from spreading.