Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series: Kosho Temple, Himi, Etchu (Tabi miyage dainishu: Etchu Himi Koshoji)

Koshoji Temple in Himi, a coastal city in present-day Toyama Prefecture (historically Etchu province), is rendered in this print from the Tabi miyage dainishu series. Hasui typically framed temple compositions to emphasize the relationship between built architecture and natural surroundings—stone lanterns, aged timber gates, and the encroaching canopy of mature cryptomeria. Himi faces Toyama Bay, and the overcast light characteristic of the Japan Sea coast in winter or early spring would lend the scene a subdued tonal range, with greys and muted greens dominating the palette. The print demonstrates the shin-hanga technique of layered flat color blocks registered precisely through the kento system, with fine key-block line work defining eaves, roof tiles, and stone surfaces. Himi was not a standard tourist circuit destination, reflecting Hasui's commitment to documenting less-visited regional sites.