Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Tsuta onsen), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Mutsu Tsuta onsen
by Kawase Hasui
Mutsu Tsuta onsen
by Kawase Hasui
The Souvenirs of Travel series (First, Second, and Third Series, 1919–1922) represents Hasui's earliest major publishing relationship with Watanabe Shozaburo. Pre-earthquake impressions (before September 1923) are the rarest — the Kanto Earthquake destroyed Watanabe's workshop and most original blocks, making surviving early round-seal impressions exceptionally valuable at $2,500–$8,000. Post-earthquake editions were printed from recut blocks and trade at lower prices.
Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province is one of the earliest prints in Kawase Hasui's career and a foundational work in his lifelong exploration of Japan's natural landscapes. Created in 1919 as part of his first "Souvenirs of Travel" series published by Watanabe Shozaburo, the print depicts the remote Tsuta Onsen hot spring resort in what was then Mutsu Province, now Aomori Prefecture in northern Honshu. The scene captures the autumn landscape surrounding the hot spring, with trees displaying the rich colors of fall foliage reflected in the still waters of nearby Tsuta-numa pond, creating a mirror-like doubling of the seasonal spectacle.
Tsuta Onsen has been known since the Heian period as a place of healing and retreat, nestled deep in the beech forests of the Hakkoda Mountains. Hasui visited this remote location during one of his earliest sketching journeys to northern Japan, a trip that profoundly shaped his artistic direction. The experience of traveling through Japan's rural landscapes and discovering scenes of extraordinary natural beauty became the defining practice of his career, and this print from the first "Souvenirs of Travel" series records one of the initial inspirations for that lifelong journey.
The autumn coloring in this print required a complex palette of reds, oranges, yellows, and greens, with each hue applied through a separate woodblock printing pass. The reflection in the water demanded equally careful work, with slightly muted versions of each color printed in precise registration to create the effect of a natural mirror. This early work already displays Hasui's characteristic sensitivity to seasonal atmosphere and his ability to convey the essential mood of a place through careful observation of light and color. Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province holds a special place in Hasui's oeuvre as one of the works that launched both his career and the broader [shin-hanga](/glossary/shin-hanga) landscape tradition.
1943
Color woodblock print
Autumn 1920
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
1924
Color woodblock print
Woodblock print
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Tsuta onsen), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)" (Mutsu Tsuta onsen) was created by Kawase Hasui (川瀬巴水) in 1919.
Yes — Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Tsuta onsen), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)" is part of the Souvenirs of Travel, First Series series (print 2) by Kawase Hasui.
Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Tsuta onsen), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)" uses Bokashi, Nishiki-e, and Moku-hanga, on color woodblock print; oban.
Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Tsuta onsen), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)" was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (1919).
Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Tsuta onsen), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)" depicts nude, landscapes, and travel scenes, set at Tsuta Onsen.
Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Tsuta onsen), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)" measures 24.1 × 36.5 cm (Oban format).
