Tokaido means "Eastern Sea Route". Therefore it is a pleonasm
to say "Tokaido road". There were traditionally 53
stations (Tokaido Gojusantsugi) on the road between Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. Hiroshige painted every one of
these stations in his "53 Stations of Tokaido" series:
- Nihonbashi (Tokyo)
This is the starting point. The name means
"Japan bridge", and indicates a historical bridge in the center of
Tokyo. See also Old bridges and expressways in Tokyo.
- 1. Shinagawa
- 2. Kawasaki.
Charles Richardson, a British merchant, was
killed here in 1862 by a samurai for blocking a procession of the
local daimyo. This incident degenerated into an international affair.
- 3. Kanagawa
- 4. Hodogaya
- 5. Totsuka
- 6. Fujisawa
- 7. Hiratsuka
- 8. Ohiso
Ohiso was famous for its beach, and is described in
many poems.
- 9. Odawara
- 10. Hakone
Hakone is now a popular tourist destination, with
mountains, a lake, a cratour that spouts out hot water and sulfide,
and a great view on Mt Fuji. A nice one-day trip from Tokyo.
- 11. Mishima
- 12. Numazu
- 13. Hara
- 14. Yoshiwara
- 15. Kanbara
One of the most famous paintings of Hiroshige (Kanbara under the snow).
- 16. Yui
- 17. Okitsu
- 18. Ejiri
- 19. Fuchu
- 20. Mariko
- 21. Okabe
Here the road joined a famous ancient road called
"tsuta no hosomichi" (narrow road of ivy).
- 22. Fujieda
- 23. Shimada
Home of a festival every three years.
- 24. Kanaya
- 25. Nissaka
Famous for a big stone which can be seen in Hiroshige's painting.
- 26. Kakegawa
Famous for its castle.
- 27. Fukuroi
- 28. Mitsuke
- 29. Hamamatsu
Home of world-famous companies Yamaha and
Honda.
- 30. Maisaka
The painting shows a former fresh water lake,
which became a waltwater lake after an earthquake around 1500.
- 31. Arai
- 32. Shirasuka
- 33. Futagawa
- 34. Yoshida
- 35. Goyu
The painting shows pandering women who try to pull the
clients into their inns.
- 36. Akasaka
- 37. Fujikawa
- 38. Okazaki
Famous for the largest bridge on the Tokaido road
(378 meters long then).
- 39. Chiryu
Hiroshige depicts a horse-chasing festival.
- 40. Narumi
- 41. Miya
- 42. Kuwana
- 43. Yokkaichi
- 44. Ishiyakushi
Home of the temple of Ishiyakushi-ji.
- 45. Shono
Stunning rain painting, probably the most famous in the series.
- 46. Kameyama
- 47. Seki
One of the most important stations, because three
important roads the Tokaido, Iga and Ise Highways joined there.
- 48. Sakanoshita
- 49. Tsuchiyama
- 50. Minakuchi
- 51. Ishibe
- 52. Kusatsu
- 53. Ohtsu
- Kyo(Kyoto)
Arrival at the Sanjo-Ohashi Bridge.