Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō · Utagawa Hiroshige, c. 1833–34
Evening Snow at Kanbara
It almost never snows in Kanbara.
The Work
Kanbara, a post town on the Tōkaidō, on a silent night of snow.
Look Closer
Kanbara is mild and rarely sees snow — this may be a scene from Hiroshige's imagination.
The Artist
Hiroshige, in his thirties, is said to have drawn the series from his own journey along the road.
The Artist
The series was a hit and made him Japan's leading landscape artist.
Edo at the Time
Edo to Kyoto was about 500 kilometers — roughly two weeks on foot.
Culture & Values
The Tenpō famine began around this time; prints of the road carried longings for faraway places.
Meanwhile, in the World
In 1833, Britain passed the act abolishing slavery across most of its empire.
Afterward
Our year in Edo ends here, on a winter night. Thank you for working with us.
Listen while you look
This print stays on screen for about ten minutes in the full hour, with Snow On The Tokaido and Lanterns In Kanbara.
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