Travel Scenes Prints (553)
Travel scenes document journeys along Japan's historic roads, sea routes, and pilgrimage paths, forming one of the woodblock print tradition's most commercially successful and artistically significant genres. The meisho-e (famous places) format, which presented sequential views of notable sites along a route, generated some of ukiyo-e's greatest masterworks and established templates that artists followed for generations. Hiroshige's "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" (1833-34), depicting the post stations along the great road connecting Edo and Kyoto, became the bestselling print series of the Edo period and defined the travel-scene genre. Its success spawned dozens of road series by Hiroshige himself and his contemporaries, documenting the Kisokaido, Nikko road, and other major routes. These prints served dual purposes — as art objects and as practical references for travelers, capturing the character of inns, teahouses, and scenic viewpoints along each route. The travel-scene tradition continued into the modern era as artists documented Japan's expanding railway network and new tourist destinations. Shin-hanga publishers like Watanabe Shozaburo commissioned series of famous views specifically targeting the tourist market, both domestic and international, creating prints that continue to define visual expectations of Japan's most celebrated landscapes.
Artists Known for Travel Scenes
Rain Shower at Shо̄no, from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tо̄kaidо̄ (Tо̄kaidо̄ gojusan tsugi)
1962
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Pacific Ocean, Awa Province (Boshu Taikai), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"
Boshu Taikai
1925
Color woodblock print; oban
Gosai Canal in Niigata (Niigata Gosaibori), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
Niigata Gosaibori
1921
Color woodblock print; oban
No. 26: Mochizuki, from the series "Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido (Kisokaido rokujukyu tsugi no uchi)"
c. 1835/38
Color woodblock print; oban
No. 28: Nagakubo, from the series "Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido (Kisokaido rokujukyu tsugi no uchi)"
c. 1835/38
Color woodblock print; oban
No. 32: Seba, from the series "Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido (Kisokaido rokujukyu tsugi no uchi)"
c. 1835/38
Color woodblock print; oban
No. 56: Mieji, from the series "Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido (Kisokaido rokujukyu tsugi no uchi)"
c. 1835/38
Color woodblock print; oban
No. 58: Tarui, from the series "Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido (Kisokaido rokujukyu tsugi no uchi)"
c. 1835/38
Color woodblock print; oban
A Section of the Byodo Temple at Uji (Uji Byodoin no ichibu), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
Uji Byodoin no ichibu
1921
Color woodblock print; oban
Shōno: Driving Rain (Shōno hakuu), from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō gojūsan tsugi no uchi), also known as the First Tōkaidō or Great Tōkaidō
c. 1833-36
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
![A Water Conduit, A Scene in Sado (Mizuagehi [Sado shoken]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)" by Kawase Hasui](https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/98bdd980-0d90-ac1c-9be2-35b57d8973e7/full/843,/0/default.jpg)
A Water Conduit, A Scene in Sado (Mizuagehi [Sado shoken]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
Mizuagehi [Sado shoken]
1921
Color woodblock print; oban
Evening Shower at Teradomari (Teradomari no yau), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
Teradomari no yau
1921
Color woodblock print; oban
Rain at Maekawa in Sagami Province (Soshu Maekawa no ame), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"
1932
Color woodblock print; oban
![Mount Fuji on a Moonlit Night, Kawai Bridge (Tsukiyo no Fuji [Kawaibashi]), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)" by Kawase Hasui](https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/d0960668-1e73-339a-b182-fb995a54bff0/full/843,/0/default.jpg)
Mount Fuji on a Moonlit Night, Kawai Bridge (Tsukiyo no Fuji [Kawaibashi]), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"
1947
Color woodblock print; oban
Pine Beach at Miho (Miho no Matsubara), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"
September 1931
Color woodblock print; oban
Seto, Bishu, from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido" (Tokaido fukei senshu, Bishu Seto)
March 1934
Color woodblock print
Setting Sun over Pines, Suzukawa Beach (Tokaido fukei senshu, Matsu no sekiyo (Suzukawa kaigan)), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido"
1940
Color woodblock print
Tokaido, Nissaka, from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido" (Tokaido fukei senshu, Tokaido Nissaka)
1942
Color woodblock print
Tokaido, Shimada, from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido" (Tokaido fukei senshu, Tokaido Shimada)
1942
Color woodblock print
Tokaido, Utsunoya, from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"
1947
Color woodblock print; oban
The Hori River at Obama (Obama Horikawa), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Obama Horikawa
1920
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)"
Mutsu Tsuta onsen
1919
Color woodblock print; oban
Red River Road
Kamezaki, Bishu, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Bishu Kamezaki)
1928
Color woodblock print
Evening in Beppu (Beppu no yu), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"
1929
Color woodblock print; oban
Kiyomizu Temple in Rain (Ame no Kiyomizudo), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
1921
Color woodblock print; oban
Arifuku Spa, Iwami, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Iwami Arifuku onsen)
1924
Color woodblock print
Evening at Tago Bay (Tago no ura no yube), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"
1940
Color woodblock print; oban
Mishima: Morning Mist (Mishima, asagiri), from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road (Tokaido gojusan tsugi no uchi)," also known as the Hoeido Tokaido
c. 1833/34
Color woodblock print; oban
Horai Rock, Kiso River, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Kisogawa Horaiiwa)
1928
Color woodblock print
Totsuka: The Fork at Motomachi (Totsuka, Motomachi betsudo), from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road (Tokaido gojusan tsugi no uchi)," also known as the Hoeido Tokaido
c. 1833/34
Color woodblock print; oban
Kamoson Village, Sado, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series" (Tabi miyage dai nishu, Sado Kamoson)
17 August 1921
Color woodblock print
Shinkawabata at Handa, Owari Province (Bishu Handa Shinkawabata), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"
1935
Color woodblock print; oban
Kasuga Shrine, Nara (Nara Kasuga jinja), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
February 1921
Color woodblock print; oban
Kosho Temple, Himi, Etchu, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series" (Tabi miyage dai nishu, Etchu Himi Koshoji)
6 September 1921
Color woodblock print
Kude Beach in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kude no hama), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Lake Hachirogata, Akita, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Akita Hachirogata)
1927
Color woodblock print
Mariko: Famous Tea Shop (Mariko, meibutsu chamise), from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road (Tokaido gojusan tsugi no uchi)," also known as the Hoeido Tokaido
c. 1833/34
Color woodblock print; oban
Yui: Satta Peak (Yui, Satta mine), from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road (Tokaido gojusan tsugi no uchi)," also known as the Hoeido Tokaido
c. 1833/34
Color woodblock print; oban
The Nikkō Road
1930
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Mano Bay, Sado Island (Sado Manowan), "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
1921
Color woodblock print; oban
July (Gorgeous Procession of Yama-hoko or the Floats at the Gion Festival)
七月 (祇園祭山鉾巡行)
second half 20th century
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Yoshiwara: Mount Fuji on the Left (Yoshiwara, hidari Fuji), from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road (Tokaido gojusan tsugi no uchi)," also known as the Hoeido Tokaido
c. 1833/34
Color woodblock print; oban
Nishi Park, Fukuoka, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Fukuoka Nishi koen)
1928
Color woodblock print
Ogi Harbor, Sado Island (Sado Ogi no minato), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
19 August 1921
Color woodblock print; oban
No. 37: Miyanokoshi, from the series "Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido (Kisokaido rokujukyu tsugi no uchi)"
c. 1835/38
Color woodblock print; oban
Mount Asahi seen from Mount Shirouma, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Shiroumadake yori mita Asahidake)
1924
Color woodblock print
Seaside Cottage, Himi, Etchu, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series" (Tabi miyage dai nishu, Hama shooku (Etchu Himi))
6 September 1921
Color woodblock print
Chiryu, from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (Tokaido gojusan tsugi)," also known as the Tokaido with Poem (Kyoka iri Tokaido)
c. 1837/42
Color woodblock print; chuban
Mt. Fuji and Traveller
Woodblock print
Takatsu in Osaka (Osaka Takatsu), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"
1924
Color woodblock print; oban
Tsuchizaki, Akita, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Akita Tsuchizaki)
1928
Color woodblock print
Urahama, Echigo (Echigo no Urahama), from the series Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishū)
1921
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Kakegawa: Distant View of Mount Akiba (Kakegawa, Akibasan enbo), from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (Tokaido gojusan tsugi no uchi)," also known as the Hoeido Tokaido
c. 1833/34
Color woodblock print; oban
Yuhi Waterfall at Shiobara (Shiobara Yuhi no taki), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Arai, from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (Tokaido gojusan tsugi)," also known as the Tokaido with Poem (Kyoka iri Tokaido)
c. 1837/42
Color woodblock print; chuban
Shimbashi Station
新橋ステーション
c. 1916
Lithograph
Fuji from the Pass of Mishima, Koshu Province
1760–1849
color woodblock print
Koshu Lake Kawaguchi — 甲州 河口湖
Woodblock print
Related Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Travel scenes document journeys along Japan's historic roads, sea routes, and pilgrimage paths, forming one of the woodblock print tradition's most commercially successful and artistically significant genres. The meisho-e (famous places) format, which presented sequential views of notable sites along a route, generated some of ukiyo-e's greatest masterworks and established templates that artists followed for generations.
Kawase Hasui, Jun'ichiro Sekino, and Kawanabe Kyosai are among the artists most associated with travel scenes in our collection. Browse the full list of artists who explored this subject above.
Hanga currently catalogues 553 prints tagged with travel scenes, spanning ukiyo-e, shin-hanga, and sōsaku-hanga traditions where applicable.