Hanga

Landscapes Prints (3812)

Landscapes are the most celebrated subject in Japanese woodblock printmaking, encompassing mountain vistas, coastal panoramas, river valleys, and rural scenes that have defined the genre for centuries. The tradition reached its first peak with Hokusai's "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" (1831) and Hiroshige's "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" (1833-34), series that established the meisho-e (famous places) format as a cornerstone of ukiyo-e. Shin-hanga artists of the early twentieth century, particularly Kawase Hasui and Hiroshi Yoshida, reinvented the landscape tradition by combining Western atmospheric effects with Japanese compositional sensibilities. Hasui's snow scenes and twilight views of rural Japan became iconic, while Yoshida's mountain studies introduced plein-air observation techniques unprecedented in woodblock printing. Sosaku-hanga artists like Toshi Yoshida and Shiro Kasamatsu further expanded the landscape vocabulary through personal expression and experimental color palettes. Japanese landscape prints typically emphasize seasonal atmosphere, weather conditions, and the interplay between human presence and natural grandeur. The use of bokashi (graduated color) and multiple impression techniques creates depth and luminosity that distinguish woodblock landscapes from other printmaking traditions.

Artists Known for Landscapes

Shichiri Beach at Kamakura in Sagami Province by Utagawa Hiroshige

Shichiri Beach at Kamakura in Sagami Province

1855

Print

Ejiri: The Story of the Pine Tree of the Feather Cloak at Miho Bay (Miho no ura hagoromo matsu no yurai)  by Utagawa Hiroshige

Ejiri: The Story of the Pine Tree of the Feather Cloak at Miho Bay (Miho no ura hagoromo matsu no yurai)

Print

Mishima: The Mishima Festival on the 6th Day of the 1st Month (Shōgatsu muika Mishima matsuri no zu)  by Utagawa Hiroshige

Mishima: The Mishima Festival on the 6th Day of the 1st Month (Shōgatsu muika Mishima matsuri no zu)

Print

Akashi, from the series Fashionable Genji (Furyū Genji) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Akashi, from the series Fashionable Genji (Furyū Genji)

1853

Woodblock print (nishiki-e) triptych; ink and color on paper

An American, a French Woman, and a Chinese Servant by Utagawa Hiroshige

An American, a French Woman, and a Chinese Servant

Late Edo period, tenth month of 1860

Yokohama woodblock print in ōban format; ink and color on paper

Fishing Boats at Tsukudajima (Tsukudajima gyoshū), from the series Thirty-six Views of the Eastern Capital (Tōto sanjūrokkei) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Fishing Boats at Tsukudajima (Tsukudajima gyoshū), from the series Thirty-six Views of the Eastern Capital (Tōto sanjūrokkei)

1862 (Bunkyū 2), 6th month

Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

53 Stations of the Tokaido by Utagawa Hiroshige

53 Stations of the Tokaido

19th century

Clear Morning after Snow at Nihonbashi Bridge (Nihonbashi yukibare no asa), from the series Famous Places in Edo (Edo meisho) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Clear Morning after Snow at Nihonbashi Bridge (Nihonbashi yukibare no asa), from the series Famous Places in Edo (Edo meisho)

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Gurnard (Kanagashira), Right-Eye Flounder (Konoa-garei) and Bamboo Grass (Sasa), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Gurnard (Kanagashira), Right-Eye Flounder (Konoa-garei) and Bamboo Grass (Sasa), from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uo-zukushi)

19th century

Ukiyo-e woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Kinryūzan Temple at Asakusa in Snow (Asakusa Kinryūzan setchū no zu), from the series Famous Places in the Eastern Capital (Tōto meisho no uchi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Kinryūzan Temple at Asakusa in Snow (Asakusa Kinryūzan setchū no zu), from the series Famous Places in the Eastern Capital (Tōto meisho no uchi)

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Returning Sails at Otomo (Otomo kihan), from the series Eight VIews of Kanazawa (Kanazawa hakkei) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Returning Sails at Otomo (Otomo kihan), from the series Eight VIews of Kanazawa (Kanazawa hakkei)

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Sumidagawa watashi no zu, from the series Tōto meisho zue by Utagawa Hiroshige

Sumidagawa watashi no zu, from the series Tōto meisho zue

19th century

Center panel from an ukiyo-e woodblock-printed "ōban" triptych; ink and color on paper

THIRTY-SIX VIEWS OF YEDO "YANAGISHIMA MIYOKEN" by Utagawa Hiroshige

THIRTY-SIX VIEWS OF YEDO "YANAGISHIMA MIYOKEN"

19th century

Ink on paper

Ichikawa Norinosuke and Ichikawa Yonejuro as Morihachi and Yonehachi, Two Comedians by Hasegawa Sadanobu I

Ichikawa Norinosuke and Ichikawa Yonejuro as Morihachi and Yonehachi, Two Comedians

Late 1830s or early 1840s

Color woodblock print

Yotsubashi Bridge, from the series One Hundred Views of Osaka (Naniwa hyakkei no uchi) by Hasegawa Sadanobu I

Yotsubashi Bridge, from the series One Hundred Views of Osaka (Naniwa hyakkei no uchi)

1869-70

Color woodblock print

Emperor Nintoku Visits His Palace in the City of Naniwa (Nintoku tennō Naniwa-to gosho e miyuki no zu) by Hasegawa Sadanobu I

Emperor Nintoku Visits His Palace in the City of Naniwa (Nintoku tennō Naniwa-to gosho e miyuki no zu)

1868

Color woodblock print

Thatched Pavilion Among Pines Above the Shore (No. 6 from Henan Hasshō, Eight Excellent Views of Henan) by Sakai Bunsei

Thatched Pavilion Among Pines Above the Shore (No. 6 from Henan Hasshō, Eight Excellent Views of Henan)

河南八勝 第六

c. 1830s

Color woodblock print

Poem by Minamoto no Sanetomo  by Utagawa Hiroshige

Poem by Minamoto no Sanetomo

ca. 1845-48

Print

Prince Genji in the Plum Blossom Garden (Fūryū Genji sono ume)  by Utagawa Hiroshige

Prince Genji in the Plum Blossom Garden (Fūryū Genji sono ume)

1853

Print

Distant View of Ryogoku from the Ohashi Bridge by Utagawa Hiroshige

Distant View of Ryogoku from the Ohashi Bridge

ca. 1855

Print

Star Festival at Yanagishima by Utagawa Hiroshige

Star Festival at Yanagishima

1856

Print

The Onmayagashi Crossing by Utagawa Hiroshige

The Onmayagashi Crossing

1857

Print

Snow in the Garden (Teichū no yuki)  by Utagawa Hiroshige

Snow in the Garden (Teichū no yuki)

1859

Print

Mount Yoshino in Yamato Province (Yamato Yoshinoyama)  by Utagawa Hiroshige

Mount Yoshino in Yamato Province (Yamato Yoshinoyama)

1862

Print

The Kōya Jewel River in Kii Province (Kii Kōya) by Utagawa Hiroshige

The Kōya Jewel River in Kii Province (Kii Kōya)

circa 1835

Print

Owaji Island, from the series Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces [of Japan] ([Dai Nihon] Rokujūyoshū meisho zue) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Owaji Island, from the series Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces [of Japan] ([Dai Nihon] Rokujūyoshū meisho zue)

Edo period, 1853-1856

Ukiyo-e woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper, with printed signature reading "Hiroshige hitsu"

Sugatami Bridge, Omokage Bridge and Gravel Pit at Takata (Takata Sugataminohashi Omokagenohashi jariba), Number 116 from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Sugatami Bridge, Omokage Bridge and Gravel Pit at Takata (Takata Sugataminohashi Omokagenohashi jariba), Number 116 from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)

Edo period, dated 1857 (1st month)

Ukiyo-e woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper

Dyers' Quarter, Kanda (Kanda Kon'ya-chō), Number 75 from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Dyers' Quarter, Kanda (Kanda Kon'ya-chō), Number 75 from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)

Edo period, dated 1857 (11th month)

Ukiyo-e woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper

Prawn (Kuruma ebi), Horse Mackerel (Aji), and Smartweed (Tade) from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uozukushi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Prawn (Kuruma ebi), Horse Mackerel (Aji), and Smartweed (Tade) from the series A Shoal of Fishes (Uozukushi)

Late Edo period, 19th century

Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom at Goten-yama (Goten-yama hanazakari), from the series Famous Places in Edo (Edo meisho) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom at Goten-yama (Goten-yama hanazakari), from the series Famous Places in Edo (Edo meisho)

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Chrysanthemum, from the series Gods of Good Fortune Represented as Flowers (Hana zukushi mitate fukurokuju)
 by Utagawa Hiroshige

Chrysanthemum, from the series Gods of Good Fortune Represented as Flowers (Hana zukushi mitate fukurokuju)

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Evening Bell at Mii-dera (Mii bansho) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Evening Bell at Mii-dera (Mii bansho)

19th century

Ink and color on paper

from the series Edo meisho by Utagawa Hiroshige

from the series Edo meisho

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Mount Kaso in Kazusa Province (Kazusa Kasozan), from the series Wrestling Matches between Mountains and Seas (Sankai mitate zumō) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Mount Kaso in Kazusa Province (Kazusa Kasozan), from the series Wrestling Matches between Mountains and Seas (Sankai mitate zumō)

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

No. 16, Kanbara: Ferry on the Fuji River (Fujikawa funawatari), from the series The Tōkaidō Road, The Fifty-three Stations (Tōkaidō, Gojūsan tsugi no uchi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

No. 16, Kanbara: Ferry on the Fuji River (Fujikawa funawatari), from the series The Tōkaidō Road, The Fifty-three Stations (Tōkaidō, Gojūsan tsugi no uchi)

Teppōzu and Tsukuda Island (Teppōzu Tsukudajima), The Temple of Bush Clover at Oshiage (Oshiage Hagidera), and Dancers in the Festival of Oji Shrine from the series Cutout Pictures of Famous Places in Edo (Edo meisho harimaze zue) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Teppōzu and Tsukuda Island (Teppōzu Tsukudajima), The Temple of Bush Clover at Oshiage (Oshiage Hagidera), and Dancers in the Festival of Oji Shrine from the series Cutout Pictures of Famous Places in Edo (Edo meisho harimaze zue)

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

True View of Kata Bay in Kii Province (Kishū Kata no ura shinkei), from the series One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces (Shokoku meisho hyakkei) by Utagawa Hiroshige

True View of Kata Bay in Kii Province (Kishū Kata no ura shinkei), from the series One Hundred Famous Views in the Various Provinces (Shokoku meisho hyakkei)

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Print by Hasegawa Sadanobu I

Print

1867 (Meiji 1)

Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper

Rain at the Togano Gate by Hasegawa Sadanobu I

Rain at the Togano Gate

1836-1870

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Pines and Rocks of Shimen (No. 8 from Henan Hasshō, Eight Excellent Views of Henan) by Sakai Bunsei

Pines and Rocks of Shimen (No. 8 from Henan Hasshō, Eight Excellent Views of Henan)

河南八勝 第八 石門喬松

c. 1830s

Color woodblock print

Evening Bell and the Receipt of the Message by Utagawa Hiroshige

Evening Bell and the Receipt of the Message

1843-1847

Print

The Moon Reflected on the Water by the Pier of a Bridge by Utagawa Hiroshige

The Moon Reflected on the Water by the Pier of a Bridge

ca. 1845-1850

Print

Poem by Fujiwara no Sanesada  by Utagawa Hiroshige

Poem by Fujiwara no Sanesada

ca. 1845-48

Print

Miyanoshita by Utagawa Hiroshige

Miyanoshita

1847-1850

Print

Women's Bathhouse in the City by Utagawa Hiroshige

Women's Bathhouse in the City

ca. 1848-ca. 1854

Print

Cherry Blossoms at Saga by Utagawa Hiroshige

Cherry Blossoms at Saga

1854

Print

Full Moon with a Cuckoo Flying above the Masts of Moored Boats by Utagawa Hiroshige

Full Moon with a Cuckoo Flying above the Masts of Moored Boats

ca. 1855

Print

Cherry Blossoms on the Shinjuku Embankment at Yotsuya by Utagawa Hiroshige

Cherry Blossoms on the Shinjuku Embankment at Yotsuya

1856

Print

Motoyanagi Bridge (Motoyanagi bashi)  by Utagawa Hiroshige

Motoyanagi Bridge (Motoyanagi bashi)

1862

Print

Akasaka: The Story of Miyajiyama (Miyajiyama no koji)  by Utagawa Hiroshige

Akasaka: The Story of Miyajiyama (Miyajiyama no koji)

Print

Maruko [Mariko] (Maruko [Mariko])  by Utagawa Hiroshige

Maruko [Mariko] (Maruko [Mariko])

Print

Station 9 -- Tora's Rain at ōiso (ōiso, Tora-ga-ame), from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō gojūsan-tsugi no uchi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Station 9 -- Tora's Rain at ōiso (ōiso, Tora-ga-ame), from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō gojūsan-tsugi no uchi)

Late Edo period, circa 1833-1834

Ukiyo-e woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper

Enjoying the Cool of the Evening and Fireworks at Ryōgoku Bridge (Ryōgoku nōryū ōhanabi), left sheet of an incomplete triptych by Utagawa Hiroshige

Enjoying the Cool of the Evening and Fireworks at Ryōgoku Bridge (Ryōgoku nōryū ōhanabi), left sheet of an incomplete triptych

c. 1847-1852

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

THIRTY-SIX VIEWS OF YEDO, "SANOGONGEN SETCHU" by Utagawa Hiroshige

THIRTY-SIX VIEWS OF YEDO, "SANOGONGEN SETCHU"

Late Edo period, 1862

Ink on paper

True View of the Foreign Buildings along the Kaigandōri Seen from the Yokohama Wharves (Yokohama hatoba yori kaigandōri ijinkan no shinzu) by Utagawa Hiroshige

True View of the Foreign Buildings along the Kaigandōri Seen from the Yokohama Wharves (Yokohama hatoba yori kaigandōri ijinkan no shinzu)

c. 1875

Woodblock print (nishiki-e) triptych; ink and color on paper

Descending Geese at Hirakata (Hirakata rakugan), from the series Eight Views of Kanazawa (Kanazawa hakkei) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Descending Geese at Hirakata (Hirakata rakugan), from the series Eight Views of Kanazawa (Kanazawa hakkei)

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

from the series A Collection of Plays Old and New (Kokon Jōruri zukushi) by Utagawa Hiroshige

from the series A Collection of Plays Old and New (Kokon Jōruri zukushi)

19th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Fuchū: Tea Picking, the Famous Abe Tea (Chatsumi, meisan Abe cha), cut from sheet 5 of the series Cutouts for the Fifty-three Stations (Gojūsan tsugi harimaze), also called Cutout Pictures of the Tōkaidō Road (Tōkaidō harimaze zue) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Fuchū: Tea Picking, the Famous Abe Tea (Chatsumi, meisan Abe cha), cut from sheet 5 of the series Cutouts for the Fifty-three Stations (Gojūsan tsugi harimaze), also called Cutout Pictures of the Tōkaidō Road (Tōkaidō harimaze zue)

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Summer: Moon at Ryōgoku Bridge (Natsu, Ryōgoku no tsuki), from the series Famous Views of Edo in the Four Seasons (Shiki Kōto meisho) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Summer: Moon at Ryōgoku Bridge (Natsu, Ryōgoku no tsuki), from the series Famous Views of Edo in the Four Seasons (Shiki Kōto meisho)

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Tagonoura Bay in Suruga Province (Suruga Tago no ura), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji (Fuji sanjūrokkei) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Tagonoura Bay in Suruga Province (Suruga Tago no ura), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji (Fuji sanjūrokkei)

20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Related Subjects

Frequently Asked Questions

Landscapes are the most celebrated subject in Japanese woodblock printmaking, encompassing mountain vistas, coastal panoramas, river valleys, and rural scenes that have defined the genre for centuries. The tradition reached its first peak with Hokusai's "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" (1831) and Hiroshige's "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" (1833-34), series that established the meisho-e (famous places) format as a cornerstone of ukiyo-e.

Utagawa Hiroshige, Kawase Hasui, and Hiroshi Yoshida are among the artists most associated with landscapes in our collection. Browse the full list of artists who explored this subject above.

Hanga currently catalogues 3812 prints tagged with landscapes, spanning ukiyo-e, shin-hanga, and sōsaku-hanga traditions where applicable.