Cave of Takkoku, Hiraizumi

Takkoku no Iwaya is a cliff-face temple complex in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, established in the ninth century and associated with the general Sakanoue no Tamuramaro. The Bishamondo, the principal structure, is set directly into the rock face of a steep gorge carved by the Koromo River. Hasui's print likely depicts the dramatic vertical contrast between the overhanging cliff and the small temple buildings nestled at its base, with the river running in the foreground. The geological striations of the rock face and the lush vegetation typical of the Tohoku region in warmer months would have presented varied textures for Hasui's carvers to render. The site's remoteness from major urban centers marks it as part of Hasui's extensive travels through northern Japan in search of subjects beyond the familiar Kanto and Kansai landmarks.