📖 The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō

The "Tōkaidō" is one of the roads ordered to be built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun of the Edo period, connecting Edo and Kyoto (later extended to Osaka). To transport travelers on official business and their luggage, 53 post towns (shukuba) were established. These post towns gathered numerous inns and dining establishments, serving not only as accommodation for travelers but also facilitating the relay of travelers and their luggage to neighboring post towns. This continuous transportation of travelers and luggage to the 53 post towns along the road is why it is also referred to as the "Fifty-three Stations." Locations of post towns (shukuba) during the Edo period Map of the Tōkaidō Fifty-three Stations (PDF) "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō" is a ukiyo-e work by Utagawa Hiroshige, which poetically depicts the scenes, famous landmarks, and landscapes of the Tōkaidō post towns. In the Edo period, when travel was far from accessible, many common people expanded their imagination and longing for travel after seeing Hiroshige's ukiyo-e. Furthermore, these ukiyo-e traveled across the sea to Europe, influencing artists such as Monet and Van Gogh, who were active in the 19th century. As cities and transportation developed, the functions and landscapes of the ancient post towns underwent significant changes. Today, some post towns and famous scenic spots still retain the appearance of that time. Comparing the landscapes depicted in Hiroshige's ukiyo-e "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō" with modern scenery can also be a delightful experience. In particular, the Satta Pass and Maruko-juku in Shizuoka City still showcase landscapes reminiscent of ukiyo-e, making them popular tourist attractions. Additionally, the local walking tour of the "Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō," allowing visitors to experience life as a traveler from the Edo period, is highly recommended.

"The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō" is a ukiyo-e work by Utagawa Hiroshige, depicting the 53 post towns (stations) along the "Tōkaidō" that connects Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and Kyoto. In the distant travel era of the Edo period, many common people who viewed the ukiyo-e "The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō" held imaginations and yearnings for travel. The ukiyo-e "The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō" even traveled to Europe, influencing several artists active in the 19th century. Many post towns no longer retain the appearance of the Edo period, but places with similar landscapes as depicted in the ukiyo-e can still be seen.