Utagawa Hiroshige 1840 In this picture, a bird’s-eye view of Oiso post station along the highway and the Sagami bay is depicted. By depicting a distant view of white sailboats on the horizontal coast line, the distance between Oiso to Izu Pennisula is expressed. Oiso was a famous tourist site since there was the “Tiger Stone”, which name is based on Tora-gozen, a woman character from a famous revenge story “Soga Monogatari (The Revenge of Soga Brother)”.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1840 The seaside scenery of the highway of Odawara is depicted. On the back, local fishermen are hauling seine at the beach. The sea breeze is suggested with the depiction of fluttering raincoat that a traveler wears, who stands in the middle of the picture. The white sails depicted on the horizon suggest a vast expanse of the ocean and even the large pine trees depicted on the foreground do not ruin the feeling of the open space.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1840 The mountain pass of Hakone in the darkness is illustrated. Deepness of the valley on the right side of the mountain pass is emphasized with the cliff illustrated on the left. Since Hakone mountain pass became very slippery and dangerous for travelers if it was wet with rain, the road was paved with stones.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1840 In a white snowscape, the blue of river is vividly depicted. In a distant, snow-capped Mt. Fuji is depicted. In a monotone picture, perspective and three-dimensional effect are expressed with the gradation and shading of the snow-covered parts and sky.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1840 From a signpost depicted in the middle, which used to be located at the entrance or the exit of post station, the place depicted at the foreground is assumed as the teashops located at the east end of Numazu post station. The view of Mt. Fuji from this place was so big that the artist could not depict the whole mountain. At the foot of Mt. Fuji, Mt. Ashitaka is depicted. It is like travelling along the highway, especially looking the scenery from Hara post station (work No.13), after looking at this work.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1840 Mt. Fuji is depicted from the teashops that were located at the end of Hara post station. The huge Mt. Fuji occupies almost the whole upper part of the picture. In many of Hiroshige’s Hara post station works, he depicted Mt. Fuji as to stick out from the frame. With the gradation of color and the cloud depicted on the foot of Mt. Fuji, the size of Mt. Fuji is emphasized.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1840 This place was known with its scenic view of Hidari-fuji (the view of Mt. Fuji appears from the left side). A curved road extends toward Mt. Fuji, which is depicted in a distance. With the special way of allotting the pine trees planted along the highway, the pastoral area seems to continue forever. Viewer can enjoy both scenery and the feeling of journey.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1840 Depicted scenery is Iwabuchi ai-no-shuku (resting place) located between Kambara and Yoshiwara post stations. As if to hide from viewers, Mt. Fuji is depicted beyond a large pine tree on the foreground. The expressions of low cloud and blank space of sky emphasize the distance from the foreground to the background.