[Ukiyo-e Guide] Where a Daimyo Procession Meets Scenic Edo Bay: Exploring the Charm of Famous Places along the Tokaido: Kanasugi Bridge and Shibaura
Date
Produced in 1863 (Bunkyu 3) during the late Edo period, Famous Places along the Tokaido (Tokaido Meisho Fukei, commonly known as the Processional Tokaido) is a collaborative ukiyo-e series created to commemorate the journey of the 14th Shogun, Tokugawa Iemochi, from Edo to Kyoto. This monumental project brought together an all-star lineup of leading Edo-period artists, including Utagawa Toyokuni III, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, Ochiai Yoshiiku, and Kawanabe Kyosai.
In this post, we shine a spotlight on one piece from the series—”Tokaido: Kanasugi Bridge and Shibaura” (Tokaido Kanasugibashi Shibaura), which depicts what is now the Hamamatsucho and Daimon area in Minato Ward, Tokyo—and explore its highlights and historical background!
1. Where Is Depicted: What Are “Kanasugi Bridge” and “Shibaura”?
The setting of this artwork is the present-day Shiba and Hamamatsucho area in Minato Ward, Tokyo.
Kanasugi Bridge (Kanasugibashi): A bridge spanning the Furukawa River (the lower reaches of the Shibuya River), located just south of today’s JR Hamamatsucho Station. During the Edo period, it was a vital checkpoint for travelers departing Nihonbashi and heading west along the Tokaido highway toward Kyoto, marking the transition from the Shiba district to Shinagawa-juku.
Shibaura: The coastline of Tokyo Bay (Edo Bay) stretching east from Kanasugi Bridge. At the time, large-scale land reclamation had not yet taken place, so a scenic shoreline and sandy beaches extended right up to the foot of the bridge.
2. Visual Highlights: A Grand Procession and the Waters of Edo Bay
The greatest appeal of this print lies in the seamless blend of the excitement of a historic shogunal procession and the serene coastal beauty of Edo.
① The Impressive Daimyo Procession Crossing the Frame
From Kanasugi Bridge in the foreground to the highway stretching into the distance, the print captures an orderly procession of shogunate officials and feudal lords (daimyo) accompanying Shogun Iemochi to Kyoto. The samurai marching with raised spears and hasamibako (lacquered travel chests on poles) convey both the tension of the late Edo period and the enduring prestige of the shogunate.
② The Panoramic View of Shibaura Right Beside the Road
To the left (east) of the bridge stretches the calm waters of Shibaura. White-sailed cargo vessels (kaisen) and fishing boats dot the bay, while the mountains of the Boso Peninsula are faintly visible across the water. It offers a refreshing, unspoiled glimpse of old Edo that is hard to imagine amid today’s high-rise buildings in Hamamatsucho and Shibaura.
③ Dynamic Storytelling Through Artistic Collaboration
Many prints in the Famous Places along the Tokaido series were created using gappitsu (collaborative painting), in which landscape masters like Utagawa Hiroshige II and Utagawa Sadahide drew the scenery, while figure specialists such as Toyokuni III, Yoshitoshi, and Kyosai illustrated the people and animals. Combining meticulous landscapes with lively human movement gives the print a remarkable sense of realism—making you feel as though you are standing right by the roadside watching the procession pass.
3. Walking Across Modern-Day Kanasugi Bridge
Even today, Kanasugi Bridge still stands over the Furukawa River along Dai-Ichi Keihin (National Route 15).
Although surrounded by skyscrapers and the Shuto Expressway, you can still look out toward Tokyo Bay from the base of the bridge and imagine the days when this spot was a scenic crossroads of sea and highway.
Conclusion
Famous Places along the Tokaido: Kanasugi Bridge and Shibaura is both a historical record of the turbulent late Edo period and a time capsule preserving Tokyo’s former waterfront beauty.
The next time you find yourself near Hamamatsucho or Shiba Park, why not take a stroll across Kanasugi Bridge while picturing the sea and grand procession captured in this ukiyo-e masterpiece?