Autumn at the Arayu Spa, Shiobara

Arayu, one of several distinct spa quarters within the Shiobara resort complex in Tochigi Prefecture, sits within a narrow gorge where inn buildings cluster along the riverbank beneath steep wooded slopes. Hasui produced multiple prints of Arayu in different seasons, and this autumn composition likely depicts the characteristic scene of inn rooftops and wooden footbridges set against the season's full foliage display on the canyon walls. The thermal springs (onsen) at Arayu produce wisps of steam that can be incorporated into the composition to add atmospheric softness, blurring the line between natural mist and geothermal vapor. The interplay of human-built structures—low timber inns, stone paths, wooden bridges—and the wild forested gorge is central to Hasui's Shiobara iconography. Technically, the print would require separate blocks for the architectural elements, the water surface, the forested slopes, and the sky, with bokashi gradation used on multiple blocks to achieve the subtle tonal depth characteristic of Hasui's mature published work.