Rivers & Lakes Prints (761)
Rivers and lakes are a recurring motif in Japanese woodblock printmaking, reflecting Japan's geography and the cultural significance of waterways as transportation routes, sources of livelihood, and subjects of poetic contemplation. From the broad Sumida River winding through Edo to mountain lakes reflecting volcanic peaks, water features anchor some of the tradition's most atmospheric compositions. Hiroshige's depictions of rivers were central to his landscape practice, appearing throughout the "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" and dedicated series like "Famous Views of the Sixty-odd Provinces." His ability to render water in varied states — rushing rapids, still reflections, rain-dimpled surfaces — demonstrated the woodblock medium's range. The Sumida River alone appears in dozens of ukiyo-e masterworks, its bridges, boats, and seasonal character providing an inexhaustible subject. Shin-hanga artists brought new atmospheric sensitivity to water subjects. Kawase Hasui's lakeside scenes, particularly his views of Lake Kawaguchi with Mount Fuji reflected in still water, became defining images of the movement. Hiroshi Yoshida applied watercolor-like tonal subtlety to his river and lake scenes, while Tsuchiya Koitsu captured the interplay of artificial light and water surfaces in his evening views.
Artists Known for Rivers & Lakes
Misty River
Woodblock print
Juji Gorge at Kurobe River
Woodblock print
Lake Ashinoko in rain - Hakone
Woodblock print
Takagawa River at Dawn, Shôwa period, dated 1932
Woodblock print
Lake and Pine Tree- PC
Woodblock print
Lake and Bamboo
Woodblock print
Beautiful misty garden pond
Woodblock print
Distance View of Nara Pagoda from the Pond of Sarusawa and Willow Trees on the Right at Evening
Woodblock print
Pond and Village in Spring
Woodblock print
Mt Fuji with sailboats on lake
Woodblock print
Mt Fuji and lake
Woodblock print
Bamboo Grove by Stream
Woodblock print
Summer Stream
1962
Color lithograph
Carp in Pond
c. 1928–1930
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Evening on the Chikugo River
1927
Color woodblock print
Lake Towada — 十和田湖
Woodblock print
Lake Ashinoko in Rain, Hakone
1929
Color woodblock print
Lake Shibayama in Kaga
Woodblock print
Takagawa River at Dawn, Shôwa period, dated 1932
Woodblock print
Spirit of a Faithful Wife in a Waterfall
1892
Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper
Dal Lake, Kashmir
1916
color woodcut
Lake Nojiri
1956
Woodblock print
Hayakawa Ayunosuke Damming the Ayukawa River in Order to Strand Fish in the Open Fields
Woodblock print
Maple Trees at Kyoko Pond (Kyokochi koyo)
1968
Color woodblock print; edition 16/80
Benten Pond at Shiba
1930s
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Ino Hayata Hiranao Seizing the Nue Monster as it Falls amid Clouds and Lightning.
Woodblock print
Mountain and Lake
1969
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Kansanomiya Shrine at Tazawa Lake (Tazawako Kansanomiyagu), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"
Tazawako Kansanomiyagu
1927
Color woodblock print; oban
Karasu Marsh, Akita (Akita Karasunuma), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"
Akita Karasunuma
1927
Color woodblock print; oban
Mountain river
Woodblock print
Moon over the Ara River, Akabane, from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo" (Tokyo nijukei, Arakawa no tsuki (Akabane))
Tokyo nijukei, Arakawa no tsuki (Akabane
1929
Color woodblock print
![Title unknown [landscape with stream] by Kihei Sasajima](https://1.api.artsmia.org/800/135921.jpg)
Title unknown [landscape with stream]
1954
Woodblock print, ink on paper
Senju Waterfall, Akame (Akame Senjudaki)
Akame Senjudaki
1951
Color woodblock print
Senzoku Pond (Senzokuike), from the series "Twenty Views of Tokyo (Tokyo nijukkei)"
Senzokuike
1928
Color woodblock print; oban
Shinobazu Pond at Night
April 1932
Color woodblock print
Snow at a Guest House Overlooking a Pond, from an untitled series of views of the Mitsubishi villa in Fukagawa
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Some River, Koshu (Koshu Somegawa), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
Koshu Somegawa
1921
Color woodblock print; oban
Matsudo Bank of Edo River — 江戸川松戸岸
Woodblock print
Mountain lake, Hakone Ashinoko no Shinryoku
Woodblock print
Mt Asama from the River Chikuma
Woodblock print
Saursawa Pond
Woodblock print
snowy river scene
Woodblock print
Yanagi Willow on the Bank of the Misa River
Woodblock print
Yanagi Willow on the Bank of the Misogi River at Nanao
Woodblock print
Lake Chuzenji in Autumn
中禅寺湖の秋
c. 1930
Color woodblock print
Moon at Arakawa River
荒川の月
c. 1924
Color woodblock print
Mt Fuji and Lake Yamanaka
Woodblock print
Rain on the Sumida River
隅田川の雨
c. 1920
Color woodblock print
Snowfall at Edo River
江戸川の雪
c. 1924
Color woodblock print
Benten Shrine at Inokashira Pond
井之頭弁天
1953
Woodblock print
River at Hiroshima
1957
Kegon Waterfall
Woodblock print
River (Kawa)
1960
Color woodblock print; edition 1/4
Misty Evening at Shinobazu Pond
Woodblock print
Misty Evening on the Shore of Shinobazu Pond (second impression)
霞む夕 不忍池畔
1932
Color woodblock print
Mount Fuji at Lake Ashinoko
Woodblock print
Mountain Stream at Atera
Woodblock print
Rainy Night at Shinobazu Pond
不忍池の雨夜
1938
Color woodblock print
Rising Moon at Katase River
Woodblock print
View of Mt. Fuji from Lake Ashinoko
Woodblock print
Related Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Rivers and lakes are a recurring motif in Japanese woodblock printmaking, reflecting Japan's geography and the cultural significance of waterways as transportation routes, sources of livelihood, and subjects of poetic contemplation. From the broad Sumida River winding through Edo to mountain lakes reflecting volcanic peaks, water features anchor some of the tradition's most atmospheric compositions.
Kawase Hasui, Hiroshi Yoshida, and Kobayashi Kiyochika are among the artists most associated with rivers & lakes in our collection. Browse the full list of artists who explored this subject above.
Hanga currently catalogues 761 prints tagged with rivers & lakes, spanning ukiyo-e, shin-hanga, and sōsaku-hanga traditions where applicable.