1. Traveling the Tokaido Road:
Using Art to Unpack People, Places, and Periods
A Visual Literacy Workshop
Virginia Association of Independent Schools
November 1, 2010
Barb Podkowka

2. J A P N

3. The Tokaido Road Stations

4. Departure point for the Tokaido Road: The Bridge at Nihonbashi, asa-no-kei Morning View
From this bridge all distances in Japan are measured. The bridge lies opposite the residence of the Governor of Edo. The Tokaido was the main highway linking Edo in the east, a commercial boom town with the new seat of power established by the Meiji government to the old Imperial city of Kyoto in the west. All levels of Japanese society used this road, from the Emperors, samurai and feudal lords (daimyo) to the Shinto priests, Japanese tourists and farmers with their animals.

5. 1st Station: Shinagawa, hinode Sunrise
Shinagawa was one of the busiest stations along the Tokaido Road. Daimyo processions rested here on their return journey from Kyoto to Edo. The townspeople of Edo also frequented this area: it was a famous 'unofficial' pleasure quarter. There were supposed to be about 500 prostitutes at the Shinagawa station, but it is believed that there were many more, and it became known as the 'southern' Yoshiwara. Yoshiwara was an official pleasure district in Edo during the Edo era and was frequented by high-class officials, samurai and famous actors.

6. 2nd Station: Kawasaki, Rokugo watashi-bune Ferry at Rokugo
The Rokugo River was the first major obstacle to pass on the Tokaido Road. The area was liable to sudden flooding. Ferrymen set up in business and the economy of the region grew, encouraging the establishment of inns for the weary travellers.
In 1862 Kawasaki became infamous for the Namamugi incident. A British man, failing to prostrate himself in respect for the passing daimyo, was summarily executed by one of the daimyo's samurai. The incident became an international embarrassment between Britain and Japan.

7. 3rd Station: Kanagawa, Dai-no-kei Hilltop view
Along the cliff edge overlooking Edo bay is a small village where several desperate women are attempting to drag male travellers off the street and into the rest houses lining the Tokaido Highway.

8. 4th Station: Hodogaya, Shimmachi-bashi Shimachi Bridge
Travellers are crossing over the bridge into the village. There was a hill called the 'Gonta-zaka' which was particularly deadly near this station and many travellers died on this part of the journey

9. 5th Station: Totsuka, Motomachi-betsudo Motomachi Detour
Travellers are welcomed at the Kome-ya teahouse by the hostess offering a tray of refreshments. There would also be stabling available for horses as well as basic accommodation for servants.

10. 6th Station: Fujisawa, Yugoji Temple
The Torii (gateway) to the temple is in the foreground with the bridge leading from the village in the background. Four blind men are making their way through the torii to the Enoshima Benten Shrine, dedicated to the goddess of music.
The Yugoji Temple was built in 1325 by the 4th Holy Priest Donkai. It was the main temple of the Jishu Buddhist sect, to which the famous 'wandering priest' Ippen belonged. He allowed his disciples to carry only 12 personal belongings including a rice bowl, chopsticks in a case, winter clothes, a surplice, summer clothes made of flax, a handkerchief, an 'obi' (sash), clothes made of washi (Japanese paper) a string of beads (A Buddhist rosary for prayer) a priests' robe, simple footwear and a cowl. They endured great hardship and sickness whilst travelling and looked like beggars.

11. 7th Station: Hiratsuka, Nawate-michi
Nawate Road
A professional courier runs past a traveller along the narrow road that zigzags through the rice fields. He is one of a team of relay runners who could cover the road between Edo and Kyoto in approximately 90 hours.

12. 8th Station: Oiso Tora-ga-ame Tora’s Rain
Soaking wet travellers approach the village along the road through the rice fields, bordered with ancient tall pine trees. The village was particularly isolated, and was a popular subject for poets. Pine tree viewing was a great pastime here.

13. 9th Station: Odawara, Sakawa-gawa Sakawa River
A Daimyo is being carried across the River Sakawa. Odawara station flourished because of its position at the entrance to the Hakone Pass, a steep mountainous area and a treacherous part of the journey. As they crossed the river, travellers could see the first great castle-town on their journey to Kyoto. Odawara Castle is the symbol of Odawara City. It was originally built in Favorite pastimes there were Plum Blossom Viewing, 'Ume', and Cherry Blossom Viewing, 'Sakura.'

14. 10th Station: Hakone, kosui The Lake
A daimyo's procession winds its way up the perilous mountain path, rewarded by stunning views of Lake Hakone with Mount Fuji in the distance. This part of the journey was perilous because bandits hid in the mountains. Hot springs along the way attracted many tourists to this area. At the top of the pass was Hakone-no-sekisho, a checkpoint that was known as a difficult place to pass through, especially for women who needed papers to prove their identity. It was illegal to pass through a checkpoint without permission.

15. 11th Station: Mishima, asagiri
Morning mist
Travellers recommence their journey whilst the early morning mists still cling to the village. An important, and rather large person, is being carried on a kago by bearers who appear to be groaning under the strain. Behind the kago is a manservant, slumped half-asleep on top of the luggage strapped to his horse.

16. 12th Station: Namazu, Tasogare-zu Dusk scene
Numazu means 'field of a thousand pine trees'. In 1777 Mizuno Tadatomo built the castle at Numazu.
Numazu was made infamous by Takeda Katsuyori, the 'Tiger of Kai' who kept two iron cauldrons on hand to boil criminals – when they were still alive. The Takeda lands occupied a large part of central Japan.
In the picture a small group of itinerant street performers can be seen hurrying back to the town to enter through the checkpoint before dusk. They are possibly returning from the Shinto shrine of Kompira, the deity for the protection of seafarers, on the island of Shikoku, where masks like these were used in the ceremony.
Kanemaruza, the oldest kabuki theatre still in use in Japan, was built at Kompira in the early 19thC.

17. 13th Station: Hara, asa no Fuji Fuji in the morning
Two female travellers are accompanied by a male escort carrying their luggage. It was considered extremely dangerous for women to travel alone. The Hara district was thought to be one of the best viewpoints for seeing Mount Fuji. Two cranes have settled in the rice fields nearby.

18. 14th Station: Yoshiwara, hidari Fuji Fuji from the left
A male guide escorts three women on horseback along the Tokaido Road. Here the 'road' is a narrow pathway through the rice fields lined with pine trees. Mount Fuji can be seen in the distance and from this viewpoint it was known as 'left Fuji'. There is a road sign to the left of the horse with the distances marked on it. At this stage the women have travelled 140 kilometers from the Nihonbashi Bridge, the start of their journey.

19. 15th Station: Kambara, yoru no yuki Night snow
The village is isolated by the winter snow; one man has an umbrella made of lacquered paper; another wears a cloak made from straw and a third trudges through the snow in bare legs.

20. 16th Station: Yui, Satta – mine Satta Pass
This print shows a dramatic view of the snow-covered Mount Fuji from the perilous Satta path, overlooking Saruga bay. Travellers would scramble to the edge of the cliff for a better view, sometimes with disastrous consequences.
During the Edo period, in a time of relative civil harmony, many samurai lost their jobs. Shosetsu, a samurai from Yui, tried to lead a rebellion against the Tokugawa government but failed.

21. 17th Station: Okitsu-gawa Okitsu River
Two sumo wrestlers are being carried across the Okitsu River. One is carried on a kago, the other sits on a packhorse. The wrestlers often achieved celebrity status; Hiroshige has not missed the humor as he shows the bearers struggling to carry their VIP. Even the horse looks miserable!
At Okitsu was the famous Seiken-ji temple where Tokugawa Ieyasu studied when he was the hostage of Imagawa.

22. 18th Station: Ejiri, Miho embo View of Miho
View over Mio-no-Matsu-bara, at the mouth of the Okitsu River to the distant hills. A magnificent view of the 'Mihonomatsubara', the famous pine groves, could be had from this station.
A pine tree from this grove features in the famous legend of the feathered robe belonging to the celestial nymph, Ayashi no Ceres. When she was bathing, a woodsman secretly watching her fell in love with her and stole the feathered robe she had left on the branch of the tree so that she could not return to heaven. Instead she had to marry him and bear his children.

23. 19th Station: Fuchu, Abe-kawa Abe River
Bearers are carrying a lady in a kago across the River Abe. Her female attendants are also carried across rather unceremoniously by piggyback. The river is deep and at times the bearers had to swim for it. If, as sometimes happened, a bearer accidentally lost a traveller through drowning he would have to forfeit his own life. Other bearers attempt to persuade an unwilling heavily laden packhorse to cross the river.
Fuchu was the birthplace of Jippensha Ikku, the author of 'Tokaidochu Hizakurige', consisting of amusing stories about the travel experiences of two people during their trip along the Tokaido highway.

24. 20th Station: Mariko, meibutsu cha-mise Famous Tea Shop
Travellers are resting at a teahouse, enjoying bowls of grated yam broth, 'tororo-jiru' the local specialty, advertised on the sign outside the teahouse. They are being waited on by a woman with a baby tied in a shawl on her back. It is springtime; the plum tree outside the teashop is starting to blossom. Basho, a famous Japanese haiku poet, praises both the broth and the view from the teahouse in one of his poems.

25. 21st Station: Okabe, Utsu-no-yama Utsu Mountain
This was a 'small inns' district. The Tokaido merges with an ancient narrow road covered with ivy, 'tsuta no hosomichi'. The poet Ariwara-no-Narihiri ( ), one of the six great poets of the Heian period ( ) wrote a famous poem along this road.

26. 22nd Station: Fujieda, jimba tsugitate Changing porters and horses
Horses and riders are changed at a government relay station. Officials are making careful notes onto washi (paper) of prices to be paid by the travellers. Nearby was Tanaka castle, the only circular castle in Japan, a popular tourist attraction, known as 'Kame-jo' (turtle castle) where Ieyasu died eating a tempura of fish.

27. 23rd Station: Shimada, Oi-gawa Sungan Suruga Bank of Oi River
Travellers are crossing the Oi River. There was no bridge and when the rains came the river was transformed into fierce rapids, and crossing the river was very dangerous.
At Shimada, the 'obi matsuri' festival is held every three years. Men wearing gold aprons and straw sandals (waraji) carry two one-meter long swords, each covered with a brocade obi. Holding an umbrella, they parade through the streets. The festival is derived from a traditional wedding ceremony where in ancient times, brides wearing wedding kimono visited the shrine. Later, to save the girls embarrassment, only the obi were paraded through the town, instead of the brides themselves. The very elaborate hairstyle 'shimada-mage' worn by Edo women was created here.

28. 24th Station: Kanaya, Oi-gawa engan Distant Bank of Oi River
Bearers carrying the daimyo have reached the other side of the river safely; some are taking a well-earned rest on the riverbank. Kanaya was the birthplace of Nihon-Zaemon, one of the most famous thieves in Japanese history, a 'robin hood' figure who stole only from the rich.

29. 25th Station: Nissaka, Sayo-no-nakayama Sayo Mountain Pass
Travellers are walking along a very steep mountain pass towards Sayo Mountain. Some have stopped to examine a large rock, the 'yonaki-ishi' that marks the place of a murder. A pregnant woman had been attacked and killed here by bandits in the night. The rock cried out to a passing priest who came and safely delivered the woman's unborn baby. The rock continued to cry every night and was called the 'crying-stone.' A famous monk called Kobo-taishi from the Nara period ( ) heard the stone crying when he passed by the village. He prayed to the Amida Buddha and carved part of the sutra into the stone, which stopped crying.

30. 26th Station: Kakegawa, Akiba-yama embo View of Akiba Mountain
Travellers are crossing a bridge in a high wind. The little boy's kite has been pulled out of his hand. An elderly couple are bent against the stiff breeze as they approach the highest point of the bridge. A naughty boy following imitates their walk, teasing them.
The shrine at the top of Akiba Mountain attracted worshippers from all over Japan to pray to Hifuse, god of fire prevention for protection against fire. Nearby Kakegara Castle belonged to Yamanouchi Kazutoyo, a loyal follower of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

31. 27th Station: Fukuroi, dejaya no zu Tea stall
By the time travellers reached Fukuroi, they were half way through their journey, approximately 230 kilometers from the Nihonbashi Bridge. The open, desolate fields of Fukuroi were hot and uncomfortable in summer. Travellers are shown taking shelter under an ancient tree from which is strung a huge kettle boiling over an open fire.
There are three famous temples in Fukuroi: Kasuisai, Yuzan-ji, and Sonei-ji. Kasuisai means 'may sleep.' The 11th chief priest of the temple helped Ieyasu when he was a hostage of Imagawa. Later, Ieysu invited the priest to his castle to thank him. The priest fell asleep whilst they were talking. Ieyasu watched him sleeping peacefully and said 'nemuru yushi'- you may sleep. After this, the temple was called 'Kasuisai.'

32. 28th Station: Mitsuke, Tenryu-gawa zu Tenryu River View
Travellers have to change boats on a large sandbank in the middle of the river Tenryu, the 'Heaven dragon' river, to enable them to complete their crossing. The distant shore is covered with mist. People on the return journey from Kyoto to Edo got their first glimpse of Mount Fuji here.
Mitsuke station was the main centre of the region. It was an ancient provincial capital, where the Kokubun-ji temple was built during the Nara era (1250 years ago) in the Iwata district, an important seat of economic and political power. The Temple was a symbol of Iwata's prosperity and influence; on its grounds was a seven-story pagoda, estimated to have been 67.8m tall.

33. 29th Station: Hamamatsu, fuyugare no zu Winter scene
Peasants are keeping warm at a roadside fire. The open landscape is without shelter. Hamamatsu village can be seen in the distance. A castle was built at Hamamatsu in 1532 and extended and renovated in It was called the 'castle of success' because each lord who lived there gained higher status in later years. Dreadful events also took place at Hamamatsu.
It was the scene of some famous battles, and was used as a base for the establishment of a military government. From this place the military launched a campaign against the Emperor and took absolute power. Here, on the orders of Oda Nobunaga, one of the most infamous warriors in Japanese history, Tokugawa Ieyasu killed his wife and child.

34. 30th Station: Maisaka, Imagiri shinkei View of Imagiri
Maisaka was a fishing port on the south east of Lake Hamana, where the lake meets the Pacific Ocean. Travellers had to cross the mouth of the river by boat. It was noted for its eel fishing.

35. 31st Station: Arai, watashi-bune no zu Ferryboat
A boat bears an awning with an official crest or 'mon' of a daimyo. There was a checkpoint at Arai where women had to show documents describing their appearance before being allowed to pass through--men simply gave their name and address.

36. 32nd Station: Shirasuka, Shiomi-zaka zu View of Shiomi Slope
The daimyo's procession makes its way down the steep slope towards the Shirasuka station. The view of the Pacific is framed with pine trees; it was considered to be one of the most picturesque views of all the 53 stations. It was a noted viewing place for Mount Fuji.

37. 33rd Station: Futagawa, Saru-ga-baba Monkey Plateau
Travelling musicians head for the teahouse on the steep mountain slope. The area was very barren and monotonous to walk through. The teahouse sold good sweet rice cakes to revive the travellers after their hard climb.

38. 34th Station: Yoshida, Toyokawa-bashi Toyokawa Bridge
Laborers are repairing the castle, balancing on scaffolding made of bamboo. The castle was originally built in The village flourished as a station afterwards. The feudal lord gave permission for a bridge to be built over the Toyo River west of the castle.

39. 35th Station: Goyu, tabbito tome-onna Women Soliciting Travellers
Women are soliciting for trade, literally dragging men off the street. A passer-by looks on with amusement. Another working girl leans on her elbows, looking bored, whilst her colleague washes the feet of a samurai. At Goyu there is a temple, 'tohrin-ji,’ where there are the tombs of four prostitutes who committed suicide from despair. The owner of the inn changed his career as a result of the girls' actions.

40. 36th Station: Akasaka, ryosha shofu no zu Inn with servants
The courtyard of the teahouse has rooms leading off it, divided by sliding screens. Guests can be seen taking refreshments, having already bathed. In another room geishas are making themselves ready for the evening's entertainment. Male travellers particularly enjoyed staying at this station. It was reputed to have the friendliest hostesses!

41. 37th Station: Fujikawa, bohana no zu Bowing to daimyo
The daimyo's procession passes by the outskirts of the village. Three peasants (and their equally respectful animals) prostrate themselves in respect to the daimyo as the procession passes by.
Fujikawa was famous for its 'purple wheat'- murasaki mugi.

42. 38th Station: Okazaki, Yahagi-no-hashite Yahagi Bridge
A daimyo's procession is crossing the bridge over the Yahagi River towards the village at Okazaki station. The castle there was the birthplace of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was also famous for its haccho misa, a fermented soybean paste.

43. 39th Station: Chiryu, shuka uma-ichi Summer horse fair
Horses are tethered in a field at Chiryu, where a horse fair is held every summer. The area was renowned for its irises (kakitsubata). A poet, passing through, was moved to write a poem expressing the loneliness of his journey from Kyoto where his wife remained.
Chiryu was also a distribution centre for cotton cloth.

44. 40th Station: Narumi, meibutsu Arimatsu-shibori Arimatsu cloth
Bearers are carrying an aristocratic lady in a special carriage known as a palanquin. Two attendants walk in front, and another rides behind with the lady's luggage. They are passing by shops selling material, made in Arimatsu, famous for its production of fine light weight silks for summer kimono, decorated with shibori, a complex form of tie-dyeing. On the banner over the shop is the monogram 'Hiro' (short for Hiroshige) and Hiroshige's print publisher, 'Take-No-Uchi' (Hoeido).

45. 41st Station: Miya, Atsuta shinji Atsuta Festival
Miya was a town built around a shrine, known as a 'monzen machi'. (Monzen = in front of temple, machi = town). It was a busy, thriving place with over 250 inns. It has an annual festival; two teams of men, each with a horse, are shown dragging a festival float (not shown) past the torii, the entrance gate to the Atsuta shrine on festival day.
Often they showed complete disregard for their own safety during the excitement of the race.
Atsuta shrine is considered to be one of the most important shrines in the country because it holds one of the three divine symbols of the Imperial Throne. The Imperial Regalia (sanshu no jingi) are the mirror, sword, and jewel.
According to Japanese mythology, the sacred mirror was used to lure Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, out of a cave where she had withdrawn after her brother Susanoo, the God of Oceans, had misbehaved himself. The mirror is now stored at the Ise Shrine.
Amaterasu gave the sacred jewel to her grandson Ningi no Mikoto when she sent him down to earth, and he gave it to his grandson Jimmu the first Emperor of Japan. It is now at the Imperial Palace.
The sacred sword was discovered by Susanoo in the tail of an eight-headed dragon he had killed. It is stored at the Atsuta shrine but is never on public display.

46. 42nd Station: Kuwana, Shichi-ri watashi-guchi Port of Kuwana
Two junks are moored at the mouth of the Kiso River. Others are making sail out to sea. There were numerous rivers between Kuwana and Miya, and travellers had little choice other than to make their journey by boat, at a point known as Shichiri-no-Watashi, or face a long detour inland past Nagoya. The journey took four hours by sea, and the travellers looked forward to arriving at Kuwana where there was a beautiful castle. Kuwana castle was of particular historic importance as it was strategically placed to defend the Tokaido Road.

47. 43rd Station: Yokkaichi, Mie-gawa Mie River
A man chases after his hat to save it from blowing into the water; another picks his way gingerly across a narrow bridge, with his cloak billowing like a sail and threatening to send him into the water at any moment.
Yokkaichi was a thriving market town and port. Yokkaichi means 'fourth day market,' derived from the traditional market held on the fourth day of each month. To reach it travellers had to cross a series of narrow bridges built across the many rivers criss-crossing the low-lying land close to the seashore.

48. 44th Station: Ishiyakushi-ji Ishiyakushi Temple
The temple at Ishiyakushi was built between It was destroyed during the Japanese civil war and rebuilt during the Edo period. Ishiyakushi was established as a station due to the long distance between Yokkaichi and Kameyama stations.
There is a stone image of Buddha Yakushi in the Temple, which is located in a clearing through the trees on the left of the print.

49. 45th Station: Shono, haku-u Driving rain
This area was mainly agricultural with a small population. It was prone to serious and frequent flooding. The villagers asked the daimyo to allow them to build a dam, but he refused, as he was worried about causing the river to flood around the castle located on the other side of the river.
A group of villagers, led by Kiku--a woman, decided to go ahead and build one without permission, knowing that disobedience to the daimyo would mean execution. They decided only the women should build the dam, as the death of all the men of the village would have meant the loss of the village itself. It took 200 women 6 years to complete the dam, and of course they were discovered. Kiku and her followers were ordered to be executed, but a retainer, Matsuno Seihoo, begged the daimyo to spare them. The women ended up receiving an award for their hard work instead.

50. 46th Station: Kameyama, yukibare Clear weather after the snow
Travellers are climbing up a steep mountain path in deep snow towards the entrance gate of Kameyama castle, a place of intrigue and murder for the Ishii family.
Masaharu Ishii, a retainer of the feudal lord was asked to take care of his adopted son, Gengoemon. He agreed and tried to find a suitable position for Gengoemon. However, Gengoemon had already established himself as an instructor of yari, Japanese fencing. Masaharu remonstrated with Gengoemon, but instead of apologizing to Masaharu, Gengoemon challenged him to kendo. Masaharu reluctantly accepted and defeated Gengoemon, who lost both his reputation and his pupils. In revenge, Gengoemon sneaked into Masaharu's room at night and killed him, before disappearing from the castle. It took 29 years to avenge Masaharu's death. His first and second sons died before Gengoemon was finally killed in the name of family honor.

51. 47th Station: Seki, honjin hayadachi Early departure of Daimyo
Preparations are being made for an early morning departure from a lodging house. The bearers are lighting lacquered paper lanterns to light the way in the darkness. This inn was reserved for the use of high-ranking officials, such as feudal lords and shogun officials.
'Seki' means barrier; there were three great barriers - fuwa, arachi, and suzuka. They were closed if there was an incident in Yamato, the centre of ancient Japan. In medieval times the district was developed into a 'monzen machi,' a temple-town.

52. 48th Station: Sakanoshita, Fudesute-mine Fudesute mountain
Travellers are resting at a teahouse overlooking a deep ravine to the mountain peaks of Fudesute-mine. An ox struggles up the steep road carrying a heavy load. It was a dangerous part of the highway because of 'sanzoku' (bandits) and travellers were very afraid of being attacked on this part of the road.

53. 49th Station: Tsuchiyama, haru no ame Spring rain
The daimyo's procession struggles to cross a bridge over a raging torrent in driving rain as they head towards the village. The area was known for its heavy spring rains and sudden flooding.

54. 50th Station: Minakuchi, meibutsu kampyo Noted pickles
Local women are preparing gourds; the area was famous for its production of dried gourd shavings used as a relish (like pickles) in Japanese cooking. One woman is peeling the gourd; another is collecting the shavings, and a third is hanging them on ropes to dry.
Legend says that Tokugawa Ieyasu was invited to a tea ceremony at Chosoku Masare's new teahouse nearby. He accepted, but the teahouse had been sabotaged - there was a device to drop it into the Nosu River! Ieyasu noticed the devious plot and managed to escape in time.

55. 51st Station: Ishibe, Megawa-no-sato Megawa Village
Travellers are entertained, watching a man dancing in front of a teahouse. Presumably he had consumed just enough sake to put on a good performance without actually falling over! Ishibe was one of the most desolate stations along the Tokaido. The roadside teahouse offers wine, rice boiled with leafy vegetables, and baked bean-curd coated with bean paste.

56. 52nd Station: Kusatsu, meibutsu tateba Posting house
Kusatsu was a major station where the Upper Kissokaido highway, the Nakosendo, joined the Tokaido. The scene of great activity shows a major rest house for the bearers, some are trying to snatch a quick meal of rice-cakes whilst others are running off in different directions with kago, carriages used to ferry the VIP's between the stations.

57. 53rd Station: Otsu Hashirii cha-mise Hashirii teahouse
Carts laden with rushes and bamboo, the national building material, are pulled through the village by oxen. A man, watched by a small child, takes water from the village fountain in water carriers made from bamboo. Ladies are waiting to serve customers at the souvenir shop. This station is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Biwa and was the last station along the Tokaido Road before reaching Kyoto, the final destination. There were many popular shrines and temples nearby, and the town was prosperous and thriving due to the trade.

58. Journey’s end: Keishi, Sanjo-ohashi Kyoto, Great Sanjo Bridge
View of the Great Bridge over the Kamo River. Travellers enjoyed a panoramic view of the Imperial Capital from this bridge. It was the aim of every Japanese person to see Kyoto at least once during his/her lifetime.
Kyoto had been the capital of Japan from the Heian period (794) to the Edo period, when in 1868 the capital was officially transferred to Edo during the Meiji restoration. It had many Buddhist shrine.

59. Traveling the Tokaido Road
You may freely reproduce these images and/or text provided you do not do so in the course of a business and state clearly that the image/text was provided by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council for use in the Cotton Town digitization project: Blackburn with Darwen Library and Information Services Community History department can be contacted at:
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60. Traveling the Tokaido Road
Please Note: The Blackburn Central Library Site no longer has these images available, but you may use them from this PowerPoint presentation. Additionally, you can access the images from the entire collection of Ando Hiroshige’s various editions of Tokaido Road prints at