![Utagawa Hiroshige, Hakone: Nocturnal Journey Through the Mountains, no. 11 from the series Collection of Illustrations of Famous Places near the Fifty-Three Stations [Along the Tōkaidō], 1855](https://iiif.micr.io/yfXop/full/2000,/0/default.webp)
The master of the Tōkaidō
Hiroshige designed his first series of woodcuts of the Tōkaidō in 1832. In 53 prints, he depicted the successive stations (rest stops) along the route.
He made dozens of variations on this series right up until the end of his life, and these were perpetually reprinted. Hiroshige continued to find new perspectives – no two prints are the same.
![Utagawa Hiroshige, Ishiyakushi: The Yoshitsune Cherry Tree near the Noriyori Shrine, no. 45 from the series Collection of Illustrations of Famous Places near the Fifty-Three Stations [Along the Tōkaidō], 1855](https://iiif.micr.io/gmfjL/full/2000,/0/default.webp)
Utagawa Hiroshige, Ishiyakushi: The Yoshitsune Cherry Tree near the Noriyori Shrine, no. 45 from the series Collection of Illustrations of Famous Places near the Fifty-Three Stations [Along the Tōkaidō], 1855
![Utagawa Hiroshige, Mishima: The First Gate of the Shrine of Mishima Daimyōjin, no. 12 from the series Collection of Illustrations of Famous Places near the Fifty-Three Stations [Along the Tōkaidō], 1855](https://iiif.micr.io/YEPwg/full/2000,/0/default.webp)
Utagawa Hiroshige, Mishima: The First Gate of the Shrine of Mishima Daimyōjin, no. 12 from the series Collection of Illustrations of Famous Places near the Fifty-Three Stations [Along the Tōkaidō], 1855
Tourist attraction
An enormous market blossomed for prints of the Tōkaidō road. In the 19th century, the route grew into a popular destination for Japanese tourists. The countless hotels, tea rooms, souvenir stalls and even brothels along the route catered to their every need.
Travel guides shepherded the tourists along the numerous highlights and attractions, such as the vantage points on Mount Fuji and the Nihon bridge. Visitors often purchased Japanese prints of these locations to take home as souvenirs.
![Utagawa Hiroshige, Kawasaki: The Village of Namamugi on the Tsurumi River, no. 3 from the series Collection of Illustrations of Famous Places near the Fifty-Three Stations [Along the Tōkaidō], 1855](https://iiif.micr.io/VQtrX/full/2000,/0/default.webp)
Utagawa Hiroshige, Kawasaki: The Village of Namamugi on the Tsurumi River, no. 3 from the series Collection of Illustrations of Famous Places near the Fifty-Three Stations [Along the Tōkaidō], 1855
Utagawa Kunisada, Nihon Bridge, from the series Views of Famous Places Along the Tōkaidō (here called: The Tōkaidō), 1863