Fushimi

In the center of the picture stands a large tree with a thick trunk, and at its base travelers rest. There is a person lying asleep and one who looks like a monk sitting eating, and on the road in front men carrying long red bags walk by. On the roads at left and right, too, people with umbrellas and parties of travelers can be seen.

The red-brown trunk and deep green leaves of the great tree occupy the center of the picture, and behind them green rice fields and distant mountains create a calm depth. The arrangement of figures scattered left and right conveys the bustle of traffic on the highway.

Fushimi was a post town in Mino, established in 1694 (Genroku 7). It is said to have been set up to replace the earlier Tsuchida post town, which was abolished after the Kiso River changed its course and the ferry crossing moved. One honjin and one waki-honjin were placed there, and it was a relay point for travelers heading to the Kiso River ferry.

This is by Hiroshige. It is a design that depicts not a famous sight but a rest along the road, and the artist is thought to have put effort into distinguishing the various travelers. The composition placing the great tree large in the center of the picture conveys the importance of shade as a resting place for travelers.