Utagawa　Hiroshige　 1855　 Along the Toukaidou Highway, there was a famous stone called “yonaki-ishi (a stone that weeps at night)” at the slope of Nakayama Mountain Pass of Sayo, which was located at the east side of Nissaka post station. In this picture, the stone is depicted in the middle of the mountain pass that extends from the foreground to the back and few travelers stop by to watch the stone. According to a legend, the spirit of a mother, who was killed by a bandit, transferred into this stone and weeps every night. 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 Oi River that flows between Kanaya post station and Shimada post station is depicted from Kanaya side. Since Oi River was a wide river and its stream was unstable, it was difficult to build a bridge over it or to run ferryboat service. People crossed the river by walk, and since it was the only way to cross Oi river, this river was considered the most difficult river to cross along the Toukaidou Highway. From the foreground to the upper part of the picture, the view of Kayana Slope, Kanaya post station, Oi River, and Mt. Fuji are depicted. By following the travelers in the picture, whole scenery is vertically connected from the foreground slope to Mt. Fuji. 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　Hirosige 1855 The view of Oi River and the far bank of the river is seen from the bank of Shimada side (sungan, the Suruga side river bank). The view is depicted from the opposite side of the previous “Kanaya” work. Three gently-sloping mountains are depicted in the background of Oi River. A serpentine line is created by a series of travelers who walks toward the point where the mountain ridges are crossed, and the line gives perspective to 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 The kachi-watashi (Men porters who carried travelers to cross them over the river by walk.) of Seto River, which flowed the west side of Fujieda post station is depicted. Since the river is shallow, there are people who cross the river by themselves. Fully utilizing the vertical composition, the serene scene is produced with the river extends to the background. 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 On the way to Mariko post station from Okabe post station, travelers had to cross a mountain pass called Utsu-no-yama (The mountain of Utsu). From this point, a lane was deviated from the Toukaidou Highway and it was called “Tsuta no Hoso-michi (The Ivy Lane)”. The name already appeared in the collection of waka poems “The Tale of Ise”, written in the Heian period. The gradation of the mountain depicted in the back and the clouds that surround the mountain give perspective to the picture. The height of the mountain is also emphasized by these expressions. 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 pleasure quarter of Nicho-machi, located near Abekawa River is illustrated. The scenery is illustrated from the Daimon Entrance as if to look down inside of the pleasure quarter. A crescent moon appears from a mountain depicted in the background. 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 Tago-no-ura Bay across the Pine Grove of Miho, which is seen from Shimizu Port located at the southern part of Ejiri post station is depicted. The green pine grove that extends from right to the ocean is the Pine Grove of Miho. In the background, Mt. Ashitaka and the grand Mt. Fuji are 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 The scenery of people crossing Okitsu River, which flowed the east side of Okitsu post station, by kachi-watashi (Men porters who carried travelers to cross them over the river by walk.) is depicted. Satta Mountain Pass is depicted in the background.  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.