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
Crater Lake at Mount Zaō H
1958
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Hori River, Matsue
Woodblock print
Lake Okotanpe (Okotanpe-ko)
1963
Color woodblock print
Lake Shore in the Morning — 湖畔の朝
Woodblock print
View of Mount Fuji from Lake Ashi
20th century
Color woodblock print
Spring Brook
1963
Color woodblock print
Waterfall, Shôwa period, dated 1966
Woodblock print
Tsuchiya Koitsu No Series The Mouth Of The Banyu River
Woodblock print
Barge Pool (Hashike damari), Shôwa period, dated 1977
Woodblock print
Kyoto - 17 A Canal
Woodblock print
Summer - Summer Pond
2022
Mezzotint
Castle Tower above a Lake
1989
Color stencil print
Three Spring Months- Waterfall Sakura — 三春瀧櫻
1990
Woodblock print
Below the Duck Pond
1982
Color woodblock print
![Untitled [mountain scape with river] by Amano Kazumi](https://1.api.artsmia.org/800/135475.jpg)
Untitled [mountain scape with river]
late 1950s
Woodblock print, ink on paper
Boats on Tehe Lake
Woodblock print
The Asano River in Kanazawa (Kanazawa Asanogawa), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
After the Snow Falls
1921
Color woodblock print
Yakase Bridge, from the series Eight Views of Lake Biwa (ōmi hakkei)
1917
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Canal by Moonlight
Woodblock print
Fuji from Lake Shoji
Woodblock print
Lake at Nikko
Woodblock print
Lake Kawaguchi
Woodblock print
Lake Motosu
Woodblock print
Mt Fuji from Lake Yamamaka
Woodblock print
Nikko Shirakumo Waterfall — 日光白雲瀧
Woodblock print
Rainy Night at Shinobazu Pond
Woodblock print
River Boats in the Evening
Woodblock print
River Sumida in snow
Woodblock print
Snow on Ayase River (Ayasegawa no Yuki)
Woodblock print
Woman in snow by the river
Woodblock print
Little Pond
Woodblock print
Kiso River
Woodblock print
Snowy River
1920
Woodblock print
Grand Canal, Venice (with clouds)
ca. 1921
'Night Falls, a Dog Howls Deep in the Mountains, the God of the Hunt Appears', from Ryuri Hanga Saku
1959
Woodblock print
Night Wind Over Lake
Shōwa period,
Woodblock print; ink on paper
Lake Scenery
1942
Color woodblock print
Stone garden by river
Woodblock print
Kawaguchi Lake Shore in Koshu District (Koshu Kawaguchi kohan)
1930
Woodblock print
Kizaki Lake in the Afternoon (Gogo no Kizakiko)
1959
Woodblock print
Lake Aoki
1927
Woodcut print
Lake Kizaki in Shinshu (Modern) (Shinshu kizakiko)
1927
Woodcut print
Locks on the C & O Canal (Kanaru no suimon)
1963
Woodblock print
Matsue Tenjin River (Matsue Tenjingawa)
1923
Woodcut print
Mount Fuji in Early Morning from Lake Hakone
20th century
Woodblock print
Mountain Stream at Hida, Gifu Prefecture
1958
Woodblock print
Mt. Uchikongo Falls (banbak-do) Korea
1939
Woodblock print
Pagoda Reflected in Sarusawa Pond, Nara, from the series "Ten Views of Nara"
1960
Woodblock print
Rain on the Tama River
1929
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Shinobazu Pond in Snow
1930
Color woodblock print
Stream in the Morning
1958
Woodblock print, ink on paper
Fuchu: Abe River
Woodblock print
Minakuchi: Twilight River
Woodblock print
Öikawa River: The Puppet Master, Bungorö with a Bunraku Puppet
Woodblock print
Seki: Lotus Pond
Woodblock print
Lake Taishon
Woodblock print
Taishō Pond
1947
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Dawn over Lake Kawaguchi
1981–86
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
New Waterfall at Hienoyama
1860s
Preparatory drawing for a print, ink and color on paper
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.