Utagawa Hiroshige – One Hundred Famous Views of Edo – 1 – Spring -１ Clear Snow at Nihonbashi (Nihonbashi Yukihare)
Current Address: Nihonbashi 1-chome – Muromachi 1-chome, Chuo-ku
Latitude and Longitude: Latitude 35.6824, Longitude 139.7744
Date of Creation: May 1856 Age: 60
Description
■ Introduction
“Clear Snow at Nihonbashi” is a work set in Nihonbashi, the center of Edo, depicting the crisp air of a snowy morning.
Nihonbashi was a special subject for Hiroshige, and following on from the series’ opening, “Nihonbashi Edobashi,” he paints it with a different seasonal feel.
Here, the symbol of Edo emerges powerfully against the clear skies the day after a snowfall, bathed in a world of silvery white.
■ About Nihonbashi
The bridge dates back to 1603, when it was built over the Nihonbashi River (formerly Hirakawa River) by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
It was approximately 50 meters long, and its railings featured spires, a symbol of formality.
It can be said to be a symbol of the founding of the Edo Shogunate. It was the starting point of the Five Highways and a key logistics and economic hub.
In the heart of Edo, the area around Nihonbashi was lined with fish markets and merchant houses, making it the city’s busiest area.
It was the “heart of Edo,” where people gathered, goods flowed, and journeys across the country began.
When snow falls in Edo in winter, the city transforms completely. A stillness descends amid the hustle and bustle.
“Clear Snow” is an ukiyo-e print that captures this extraordinary moment, expressing the beauty of the snowy scenery that Edo people longed for.
■ Highlights of the Painting
At the south end of the bridge, there are seven or eight large and small noticeboards.
On the opposite side was a hut for bleaching.
A guardhouse was located at the north end, and a fish market was located to the east.
Wholesale shops, warehouses, and merchants’ houses lined both sides of the bridge, making it the busiest place in Edo.
The bridge depicts a procession of feudal lords and merchants carrying cargo, bustling back and forth through the snow.
It symbolizes the vitality of Edo.
The roofs, streets, and even the bridge railings are covered in a blanket of snow.
The pure white expanse vividly conveys the crisp, crisp air of winter.
The majestic Mount Fuji is depicted in the background.
The snow-covered streets of Edo and Mount Fuji sparkling in white echo each other, creating an “ideal view” that Edo residents took pride in.
Blue sky peeks out after the snow, and the city is enveloped in clear air and dazzling light.
By emphasizing light rather than darkness, a sense of refreshing hope is created in the winter scenery.
■ The Charm Felt by the Common People of Edo
Edo, being Tokyo, experienced little snow.
Heavy snow days were a special experience and a source of joy for the people.
The snowy scenes depicted in ukiyo-e allow us to experience the “extraordinary Edo” that we longed for.
The common people of Edo cherished Mount Fuji as an “unchanging presence.”
They found it reassuring to see it in the everyday scenery.
The combination of a snowy Nihonbashi and Mount Fuji represents “ideal winter beauty.”
Nihonbashi is the epitome of everyday life in Edo.
The addition of snow transforms the ordinary streetscape into a special setting.
Common people were reminded of the beauty hidden in familiar places.
■ Walking through Modern Nihonbashi
The current Nihonbashi is a stone arch bridge completed in 1911 and designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
The wooden bridge from the Edo period has been lost, but the “Origin Marker of Japan’s National Highway” remains at the foot of the bridge, commemorating its history as the starting point of the Five Routes.
Historical sites such as Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi and the former fish market monument are scattered throughout the area, testifying to the prosperity of Edo.
Standing at the foot of the bridge, you can imagine the distant view of Mount Fuji depicted by Hiroshige.
While snow is rare in Tokyo, visiting Nihonbashi on a snowy day allows you to relive the world depicted in Hiroshige’s ukiyo-e.
The contrast between the snow and the modern-day buildings offers a different kind of beauty.
■ Tourist Guide
① Japan National Highway Origin Marker
This stone monument marks the starting point of the Five Routes. You can truly sense that Edo’s journey began here.
② Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store
A long-established department store and a commercial center since the Edo period. Combine shopping with a historical stroll.
③ Nihonbashi Cruise
Viewing Nihonbashi from the river on a boat allows you to experience the atmosphere of Edo’s water transport city.
④ Stroll on a Snowy Day
Photographing Nihonbashi covered in snow is a modern-day version of “Nihonbashi Snow Clearing.”
