The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kiso Kaido
Encyclopedia
Ukiyo-e
' is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints and paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries, featuring motifs of landscapes, tales from history, the theatre, and pleasure quarters...
works created by Utagawa Hiroshige and Keisai Eisen
Keisai Eisen
Keisai Eisen was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist who specialised in bijinga . His best works, including his ōkubi-e , are considered to be masterpieces of the "decadent" Bunsei Era...
. There are 71 total prints in the series (one for each of the 69 post stations
Shukuba
were post stations during the Edo period in Japan, generally located on one of the Edo Five Routes or one of its sub-routes. They were also called shukueki . These post stations were places where travelers could rest on their journey around the nation...
and Nihonbashi
Nihonbashi
, or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, and the current bridge made of stone dates from 1911...
; Nakatsugawa-juku
Nakatsugawa-juku
was the forty-fifth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Nakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. During the Edo period, Nakatsugawa-juku reached a population of over 1,230 people and contained over 175 homes. There are many historical artifacts...
has two prints). The common name for the Kiso Kaidō is "Nakasendō," so this series is sometimes referred to as the Sixty-nine Stations of the Nakasendō. It is a follow up to Hiroshige's The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō and he produced 47 of the prints, with Eisen being responsible for the rest.
The Nakasendō
The Nakasendō was one of the Five RoutesEdo Five Routes
The were the five major roads that started at Edo during the Edo period, the most important of which was the Tōkaidō, which linked Edo and Kyoto...
constructed under Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
, a series of roads linking the historical capitol of Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
with the rest of Japan. The Nakasendō connected Edo with the then-capital of Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. It was an alternate route to the Tōkaidō
Tokaido (road)
The ' was the most important of the Five Routes of the Edo period, connecting Edo to Kyoto in Japan. Unlike the inland and less heavily travelled Nakasendō, the Tōkaidō travelled along the sea coast of eastern Honshū, hence the route's name....
and travelled through the central part of Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
, thus giving rise to its name, which means "Central Mountain Road". Along this road, there were sixty-nine different post stations
Shukuba
were post stations during the Edo period in Japan, generally located on one of the Edo Five Routes or one of its sub-routes. They were also called shukueki . These post stations were places where travelers could rest on their journey around the nation...
, which provided stables, food, and lodging for travelers.
Prints by Eisen
Nihonbashi
, or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, and the current bridge made of stone dates from 1911...
to Honjō-shuku
Honjo-shuku
was the tenth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Honjō, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.-History:There are no remnants of the Edo period post town remaining today; however, there are still many Western-style buildings from the following Meiji period in...
, stretching from Tokyo to Saitama Prefecture
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
. His prints from Gunma Prefecture
Gunma Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on Honshu island. Its capital is Maebashi.- History :The remains of a Paleolithic man were found at Iwajuku, Gunma Prefecture, in the early 20th century and there is a public museum there.Japan was without horses until...
include Kuragano-shuku
Kuragano-shuku
was the twelfth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.-History:Kuragano-shuku was an intersection between the Nakasendō and the Nikkō Reiheishi Kaidō. Travelers coming from Kyoto would use this route to get to Nikkō...
, Itahana-shuku
Itahana-shuku
was the fourteenth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Annaka, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Ruins of its honjin can be found at the Princess Kazunomiya Inn .-References:...
and Sakamoto-shuku
Sakamoto-shuku
was the seventeenth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Annaka, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
. Representing Nagano Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
, he made prints of Kutsukake-shuku
Kutsukake-shuku
was the nineteenth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day town of Karuizawa, in the Kitasaku District of Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
, Oiwake-shuku
Oiwake-shuku
was the twentieth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day town of Karuizawa, in the Kitasaku District of Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
, Iwamurada-shuku
Iwamurada-shuku
was the twenty-second of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Saku, in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
, Shiojiri-shuku
Shiojiri-shuku
was the thirtieth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the central part of the present-day city of Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:This area was originally built by Ōkubo Nagayasu in the Keichō era of the early Edo period...
, Narai-juku
Narai-juku
was the thirty-fourth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō, as well as the second of eleven stations along the Kisoji. It is located in the present-day city of Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
, Yabuhara-juku
Yabuhara-juku
was the thirty-fifth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō, as well as the third of eleven stations on the Kisoji. It is located in the present-day village of Kiso, in the Kiso District of Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Yabuhara-juku is located shortly before the Torii Pass, which was the most...
, Nojiri-juku
Nojiri-juku
is the name of two post stations in Japan during the Edo period.*Nojiri-juku was the fortieth station on the Nakasendō and the eighth on the Kisoji.*Nojiri-shuku was the twelfth station on the Hokkoku Kaidō....
and Magome-juku. His last two prints, Unuma-juku
Unuma-juku
was the fifty-second of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It was also the last post station on the Inagi Kaidō. It is located in the present-day city of Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The eastern and western portions of the old post town joined together to become a formal post town...
and Gōdo-juku
Godo-juku
was the fifty-fourth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan...
represent Gifu Prefecture
Gifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
. After that, Hiroshige took over production of the series.
Prints by Hiroshige
Hiroshige's prints start in Gunma Prefecture and include Shinmachi-shukuShinmachi-shuku
was the eleventh of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.-History:Though Shinmachi-shuku is the eleventh post station on the Nakasendō, it was actually the last station to be developed.-References:...
, Takasaki-shuku
Takasaki-shuku
was the thirteenth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.-History:Takasaki-shuku was located at the intersection of the Nakasendō and the Mikuni Kaidō...
, Annaka-shuku
Annaka-shuku
was the fifteenth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Annaka, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Batō Kan'on lined the way to the post town.-References:...
and Matsuida-shuku
Matsuida-shuku
was the sixteenth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Annaka, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, at the foot of Mount Myōgi.-Travel towards Kyoto:...
. His prints that reflect Nagano Prefecture] are Karuisawa-shuku
Karuisawa-shuku
was the eighteenth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the northern portion of the present-day town of Karuizawa, in the Kitasaku District of Nagano Prefecture, Japan...
, Otai-shuku
Otai-shuku
was the twenty-first of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day town of Miyota, in the Kitasaku District of Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
, from Shionada-juku to Shimosuwa-shuku
Shimosuwa-shuku
was the twenty-ninth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō, as well as being the ending location of the Kōshū Kaidō. It is located in the present-day town of Shimosuwa, Suwa District, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
, from Seba-juku
Seba-juku
was the thirty-first of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the central part of the present-day city of Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
to Niekawa-juku
Niekawa-juku
was the thirty-third of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
, from Miyanokoshi-juku
Miyanokoshi-juku
was the thirty-sixth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō, as well as the fourth of eleven stations on the Kisoji. It is located in the present-day town of Kiso, in the Kiso District of Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
to Suhara-juku
Suhara-juku
was the thirty-ninth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō, as well as the seventh of eleven stations on the Kisoji. It is located in the present-day village of Ōkuwa, in the Kiso District of Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
, Midono-juku
Midono-juku
was the forty-first of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō, as well as the ninth of eleven stations on the Kisoji. It is located in the present-day town of Nagiso, in the Kiso District of Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It was originally written as 御殿宿 .-History:The northern part of Nagiso Station...
and Tsumago-juku. His prints from Gifu Prefecture include Ochiai-juku
Ochiai-juku
was the forty-fourth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Nakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The honjin and the sub-honjin, as well as some old street lights, remain from the Edo period. The Honjin were the main rest areas in old post towns and...
to Ōta-juku
Ota-juku
was the fifty-first of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō during the Edo period. It is located in Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It was located on one of the more difficult parts of the Nakasendō, but relics from its days as a post town still remain today...
, Kanō-juku
Kano-juku
was the fifty-third of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located just south of JR Gifu Station in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. During the Edo period, it was an independent post town that was approximately wide, making it the largest post towns in Mino Province.Kanō Tenman-gū is...
, and from Mieji-juku
Mieji-juku
was the fifty-fifth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Mizuho, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. This post town received its name from Mie-ji, a temple which was located in Mizuho during the Edo period...
to Imasu-juku
Imasu-juku
was the fifty-ninth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day town of Sekigahara, Fuwa District, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
. His last ten prints, from Kashiwabara-juku
Kashiwabara-juku
was the sixtieth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Maibara, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.-History:Records of Kashiwabara-juku itself date back to the Middle Ages when it was mentioned in the Taiheiki, a historical epic of Japan. A post station was...
to Ōtsu-juku
Otsu-juku
was the last of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō, as well as the last of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It was from the previous post town, Kusatsu-juku, and was located in Ōmi Province...
are all in Shiga Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
.