Utagawa Hiroshige 1856 ‘Kambara’ illustrates the Fuji-kawa River and the stream of which seems to flow slowly, but actually was known for its strong current. ‘Yui’ illustrâtes ‘Kurasawa Odori’: a dance. The geographical name Kurasawa still remains but this cultural heritage does not. ‘Okitsu’ illustrates a person from the late early Nara period who was well versed in the Japanese Tanka Poem: Yamabe no Akahito. Hiroshige produced many series of prints based on the Toukaidou Highway, and he also produced the different styles of work as this one. It is generally called “The Toukaidou with Harimaze-e (Paste the mixed pictures.)”, and three to five pictures of landscapes of post stations, local specialties and episodes or stories related to the places are illustrated in a single sheet.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1856 Mishima’ illustrates ‘Osen’ of Mishima, a popular character who appear in a Kabuki play. ‘Numazu’ illustrates a view of Mt. Ashitaka-yama which is located south of Mt. Fuji. ‘Hara’ depicts scene from a Japanese Fairy Tale ‘Taketori Monogatari’. An old man is on his way home with Kaguya Hime Princess after he found her from between the nodes of a bamboo tree trunk. ‘Yoshiwara’ illustrates a scene of marshy lands called ‘Ukishima-ga-hara’ ―the field of floating islands― that stretches at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Hiroshige produced many series of prints based on the Toukaidou Highway, and he also produced the different styles of work as this one. It is generally called “The Toukaidou with Harimaze-e (Paste the mixed pictures.)”, and three to five pictures of landscapes of post stations, local specialties and episodes or stories related to the places are illustrated in a single sheet.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1856 Hiroshige produjo muchos estampados de la carretera Tokaido principalmente de paisajes y algunos otros estilos como esto. Generalmente se llama “Tokaido Harimaze zue” o dibujos mixtos pegados de la carretera Tokaido donde se insertan paisajes, productos especiales y episodios o historias locales de tres a cinco estaciones en una hoja. Nihon-bashi Bridge’ illustrates the first bonito of the season which was a pleasure for the people of the city of Edo in Summer. ‘Shinagawa’ illustrates sailing vessels carrying goods from port to port. In the Edo period the shipping industry prospered. ‘Kawasaki’ illustrates the competition of drinking Sake at Kawasaki Daishi-gawara. Hiroshige produced many series of prints based on the Toukaidou Highway, and he also produced the different styles of work as this one. It is generally called “The Toukaidou with Harimaze-e (Paste the mixed pictures.)”, and three to five pictures of landscapes of post stations, local specialties and episodes or stories related to the places are illustrated in a single sheet.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1856 Hiroshige produced many series of prints based on the Toukaidou Highway, and he also produced the different styles of work as this one. It is generally called “The Toukaidou with Harimaze-e (Paste the mixed pictures.)”, and three to five pictures of landscapes of post stations, local specialties and episodes or stories related to the places are illustrated in a single sheet.

Utagawa　Hiroshige　 1855 The bird’s-eye view of the post station town of Otsu and Lake Biwa, seen from the Kan’non Hall of Mii Temple is depicted. The boats are proceeding the waterway of vertically extending Lake Biwa. 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 seen from the opposite side of the picture No. 2 “Otsu” is depicted. The Toukaidou Highway runs along the southern section of Lake Biwa, between Otsu and Kusatsu section. Although, there was a popular short-cut waterway that crossed Lake Biwa. The boats departed from the Otsu port are lined on the lake and the sailors furl the sails as they approach to the gate of Yabase port depicted in the foreground. As an animation, the movements of the boats are captured. 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　 Utilizing the vertical composition, the interior of an inn from the grand floor to the second floor is depicted. The scenes that guests relax and enjoy the time in the rooms and working waiters are also depicted. Since many travelers who travelled the Toukaidou Highway from Kyoto stayed the first night at Ishibe post station, many inns were lined along the highway and this station was flourished with many travelers. 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 shape of pine trees that grow naturally at the sloping area of Bishoumatsu-yama Mountain, located at the west end of Minakuchi post station, are very rare that the point where branches are divided into two section is very close to the base of tree. Because of this rare pine trees, this place became a famous site along the highway. A pleasant scene that a local child tells travelers about the pine trees are also 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.