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Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido

This is one of Japan's representative ukiyoe works depicting travel scenes and landscapes of the Edo period.

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The Tokaido Highway was one of the highways connecting Edo and Kyoto (later extended to Osaka), built by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun of the Edo period.
Fifty-three inns were established to transport travelers and luggage on official business.

Many inns and eating establishments were clustered together at inns, which not only served as places for travelers to stay, but also served as relays of official travelers and their luggage to the adjacent inns.
The name "Gojusantsugi" comes from the fact that travelers and their luggage were sent from one inn to the next at 53 inns along the highway.

Places where inns were established in the Edo period.
Places where inns were established in the Edo period.

The "53 stations of the Tokaido Highway" is an ukiyoe work by Hiroshige Utagawa that lyrically depicts the inns, famous places, and landscapes of the Tokaido Highway. During the Edo period, when travel was not readily available, many ordinary people looked at the ukiyoe of the 53 Stages of the Tokaido Highway and developed an image and longing for travel.
These Ukiyoe also crossed the sea to Europe, where they influenced artists such as Monet and Van Gogh, who were active in the 19th century.

The roles and scenery of the former post towns have changed greatly with the development of the city and transportation, but there are still some post towns and famous places that retain the remnants of those days, and Hiroshige drew them in the ukiyo-e "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido". It will be interesting to compare the landscape with the modern landscape.
In particular, Satta Pass and Mariko-shuku in Shizuoka City are popular spots where visitors can still enjoy ukiyoe-like scenery.

There are also walking tours of the "53 Stages of the Tokaido Highway," so it may be fun to feel like a traveler in the Edo period.

Highlights

  • "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" is an ukiyo-e painting by Hiroshige Utagawa, depicting 53 post towns and famous places along the "Tokaido" connecting Edo (present-day Tokyo) and Kyoto.
  • In the Edo period, when travel was not a familiar sight, many ordinary people dreamed of traveling after seeing the ukiyo-e "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido".
  • The ukiyo-e "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" traveled to Europe and influenced many artists who were active in the 19th century.
  • There are many post towns that have changed greatly since the Edo period, but there are places where you can still enjoy scenery similar to that of ukiyo-e prints.

Photos

  • Nihonbashi Bridge, the starting point of Tokaido Highway, painted by Hiroshige Utagawa.

    Nihonbashi Bridge, the starting point of Tokaido Highway, painted by Hiroshige Utagawa.

  • The Great Bridge at Sanjo, the goal point of Tokaido Highway, painted by Hiroshige Utagawa.

    The Great Bridge at Sanjo, the goal point of Tokaido Highway, painted by Hiroshige Utagawa.

  • Fujieda-shuku, the 22nd stop on the 53 Stages of the Tokaido Highway, as depicted by Hiroshige Utagawa. Fifty-three stages on the Tokaido: Changing Porters and Horses at Fujieda (Collection of Fujieda City Folk Museum)

    Fujieda-shuku, the 22nd stop on the 53 Stages of the Tokaido Highway, as depicted by Hiroshige Utagawa. Fifty-three stages on the Tokaido: Changing Porters and Horses at Fujieda (Collection of Fujieda City Folk Museum)

  • Mariko-shuku depicted in ukiyo-e Fifty-Three stages of the Tokaido: The Famous Teahouse at Mariko（Collection of Shizuoka City Tokaido Hiroshige Museum of Art）

    Mariko-shuku depicted in ukiyo-e Fifty-Three stages of the Tokaido: The Famous Teahouse at Mariko（Collection of Shizuoka City Tokaido Hiroshige Museum of Art）

  • Current Mariko-shuku (chojiya)

    Current Mariko-shuku (chojiya)

Official FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.

Q

Can I still walk the Tokaido Highway?
A

Although very few roads remain as they were in the Edo period, it is still possible to walk along the Tokaido Highway to visit various places of interest and historic interest.

Q

Is "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Highway" by Hiroshige Utagawa a single Ukiyoe?
A

There are a total of 55 Ukiyoe, 53 of which depict the scenery of each inn, etc., and 2 of which depict the scenery of "Nihonbashi," the starting point of the Tokaido Highway, and "The Great Bridge at Sanjo," the goal point.

Q

I would like to know a place where I can enjoy scenery similar to Ukiyo-e.
A

In Shizuoka City, Yui-shuku (Satta Pass) and Mariko-shuku still retain the same scenery as they did back then, and at the Shizuoka City Tokaido Hiroshige Museum of Art in Yui-shuku, you can appreciate Hiroshige's ukiyo-e works.

Details

Name in Japanese
東海道五十三次（とうかいどうごじゅうさんつぎ）
Prefectures with inns depicted in Ukiyoe
Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Shiga, Kyoto

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