Utagawa　Hiroshige　 1855 An evening scene of the highway is depicted. The roofs of houses depicted in the background look like the buildings of Akasaka post station. As in the title, Yaji, a character from “Toukaidouchu Hizakurige (Shank’s Mare: The Tour of the Toukaidou Highway)” thinks Kitahachi as “the fox turns itself into Kitahachi” and beats him. The series, “Views of Famous Places of Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou” was produced in 1855, when Hiroshige was 59 years old, and this is his last Toukaidou series. This series is also called “The Toukaidou in Vertical Pictures” since it is produced as the series of vertical pictures. It is considered the vertical composition is not suitable for landscape pictures since it is difficult to find the good balance in the space. However Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures used this composition in a distinctive way, created the masterpiece series.

Utagawa　Hiroshige　 1855 There was a junction at Goyu post station and Honsaka-michi Road (it was also called as “Hime Kaidou”) was deviated from this place. This road was a route that takes north side of Lake Hamana without using any waterway. The region near Goyu post station was called Hon’no-ga-hara Field and a flat plateau was extended. In this picture, a peaceful scenery of the Hon’no-ga-hara is depicted. The series, “Views of Famous Places of Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou” was produced in 1855, when Hiroshige was 59 years old, and this is his last Toukaidou series. This series is also called “The Toukaidou in Vertical Pictures” since it is produced as the series of vertical pictures. It is considered the vertical composition is not suitable for landscape pictures since it is difficult to find the good balance in the space. However Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures used this composition in a distinctive way, created the masterpiece series.

Utagawa　Hiroshige　 1855 　Yoshida post station was located at today’s Toyohashi. The bridge that spans over Toyo River was also called Toyohashi Bridge (It was also called as Yoshida Ohasi). It looks like a samurai procession, led by a guide, is crossing the bridge and travelers let the procession pass by keeling down on the ground. The strong gradation on the both edges of the river emphasizes the expanse of water. The series, “Views of Famous Places of Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou” was produced in 1855, when Hiroshige was 59 years old, and this is his last Toukaidou series. This series is also called “The Toukaidou in Vertical Pictures” since it is produced as the series of vertical pictures. It is considered the vertical composition is not suitable for landscape pictures since it is difficult to find the good balance in the space. However Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures used this composition in a distinctive way, created the masterpiece series.

Utagawa　Hiroshige　 1855　 The scenery of Saru-ga-baba rest place, which was located between Futagawa post station and Shirasuka post station is depicted. The teashops, which were famous with a local specialty, the sweet dumpling wrapped with oak leave, are lined along the road. The effect of the gradation of the color, from the bottom to the top of a mountain, gives perspective, which is unique to the mountainous region, to this picture. The series, “Views of Famous Places of Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou” was produced in 1855, when Hiroshige was 59 years old, and this is his last Toukaidou series. This series is also called “The Toukaidou in Vertical Pictures” since it is produced as the series of vertical pictures. It is considered the vertical composition is not suitable for landscape pictures since it is difficult to find the good balance in the space. However Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures used this composition in a distinctive way, created the masterpiece series.

Utagawa　Hiroshige　 1855 The scenery of Shiomi-zaka Slope, which is located east side of Shirasuka post station is depicted. When a traveler traveled along the Toukaidou from Kyoto to Tokyo, it is said that he or she could see Mt. Fuji for the first time at Shiomi-zaka Slope. Although Mt. Fuji is not depicted in this picture. Instead of emphasizing the height of the slope, by overlooking the scenery, the grandness of the ocean extending to the background is emphasized. The series, “Views of Famous Places of Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou” was produced in 1855, when Hiroshige was 59 years old, and this is his last Toukaidou series. This series is also called “The Toukaidou in Vertical Pictures” since it is produced as the series of vertical pictures. It is considered the vertical composition is not suitable for landscape pictures since it is difficult to find the good balance in the space. However Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures used this composition in a distinctive way, created the masterpiece series.

Utagawa　Hiroshige　 1855 The bird’s-eye view of Tenryu River from Mitsuke post station is depicted. People are crossing Tenryu river by ferry boats. The bank illustrated across the river is considered as the mid-point of the Toukaidou Highway that from this point, the distance to Kyoto is equal to the distance to Nihonbashi Bridge, Tokyo. The series, “Views of Famous Places of Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou” was produced in 1855, when Hiroshige was 59 years old, and this is his last Toukaidou series. This series is also called “The Toukaidou in Vertical Pictures” since it is produced as the series of vertical pictures. It is considered the vertical composition is not suitable for landscape pictures since it is difficult to find the good balance in the space. However Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures used this composition in a distinctive way, created the masterpiece series.

Utagawa　Hiroshige　 1855 The peaceful pastoral scenery along the Highway, such as the people transplant rice seedlings and people fly the Enshu-kites (the traditional kites of this region) are depicted. The height of the sky is emphasized by depicting a flying kite at the upper part of the picture. The series, “Views of Famous Places of Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou” was produced in 1855, when Hiroshige was 59 years old, and this is his last Toukaidou series. This series is also called “The Toukaidou in Vertical Pictures” since it is produced as the series of vertical pictures. It is considered the vertical composition is not suitable for landscape pictures since it is difficult to find the good balance in the space. However Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures used this composition in a distinctive way, created the masterpiece series.

Utagawa　Hiroshige　 1855 At the west side of Kakegawa post station, there was a junction that the approach to the Akiha Shrine was deviated from the Toukaidou. Akiha Shrine was known as the fire prevention shrine and worshipped by many followers during the Edo period. The “Forty-eight Fords” in the title indicate the Mikura River and as depicted in the picture, people can cross this river by walk. People had to cross several fords by walk, in order to get to Akiha Shrine. The series, “Views of Famous Places of Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou” was produced in 1855, when Hiroshige was 59 years old, and this is his last Toukaidou series. This series is also called “The Toukaidou in Vertical Pictures” since it is produced as the series of vertical pictures. It is considered the vertical composition is not suitable for landscape pictures since it is difficult to find the good balance in the space. However Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures used this composition in a distinctive way, created the masterpiece series.