This is the name of the slope rising in an eastward direction from the north side of Shomyo-ji Temple, Shitaderamachi 2-chome, Tennoji Ward. It is a nostalgic, serene stone-paved slope that extends from Taihei-ji Temple, where the faithful worship on the 13th of the month ("Jusan-mairi"), to Matsuyamachi-suji (Street). Along with Genshoji-zaka it is a representative slope of the Uemachi plateau. The name "Kuchinawa" means "snake" and derives from the fact that, looking from the bottom, the ups and downs of the slope resemble a snake. Another explanation for the origin of the name is that at the time Osaka Castle was built this is where the circumference of the building site was staked out with a ripe (nawa).

As one climbs the slope, on the right a literary marker appears commemorating the works of ODA Sakunosuke with an inscription from the last line of his novel "Ki no Miyako" (The Tree Capital): " A white wind raced down the slope, withering the leaves of trees and wrapping Kuchinawa-zaka in a cold embrace."

Nearby in the temple graveyard of Joshun-ji Temple are the graves of the astronomer ASADA Goryu and artist TANOMURA Chikuden, at the Shun'yo-ken the grave of Japanese classic scholar OZAKI Masayoshi, and in Taihei-ji Temple the graves of the physician KITAYAMA Juan and other forerunners who were active during the Edo Period. Also you can see a prayer tower for MATSUO Basho at Baikyu-in Temple.