Etchu Province: Pontoon Bridge at Toyama

From lower left to lower right, a pontoon bridge, planks laid across dozens of small boats lined up side by side, crosses the river in a great arc. On the lower right bank are pines and the roof of a teahouse, and travelers gather at the foot of the bridge. A green sandbar extends midstream, and on the far bank pine-lined avenues and rows of houses continue.

The broad river is shown in bands of pale blue and indigo, and the brown arc of the pontoon bridge cuts across the picture. Green mountains overlap at the back, and white snow-capped peaks appear beyond them. The yellow shading of the sky suggests the gentle light of a calm day.

The pontoon bridge over the Jinzu River was built north of the castle town of Toyama and was a famous feature crossed by travelers on the Hokurikudo road. It is said to have been first built by the Maeda family at the end of the Sengoku period, and as a rare bridge made of dozens of boats tied together with rope, it was a sight of Etchu that stayed in travelers' memories.

The distant snowy mountains are thought to suggest the Tateyama range. The National Diet Library also holds an impression with the same composition. The travelers and teahouse in the foreground show that the foot of the bridge was a place where people gathered. The great arc of the pontoon bridge is one of the most eye-catching forms in this series.