Kisokaidô: Shionada - Station 23

Crossing the Chikuma-gawa river (now called Shinano-gawa river), the longest river in Japan was always a challenge. When the waters were low, a pontoon bridge was installed, but when the snows were thawing or during the rainy season, the current was too swift and a ferry service replaced the pontoon bridge. For the travelers in a hurry, boats could be rented and for the ones with large luggage, there were rafts pushed by swimmers and porters. Here Hiroshige depicts the river in spring with a group of three boatmen (1) wrapped in cloth and straw mats for warmth as they walk towards the ferry station where a gang of nearly naked swimmer-porters (2) are sitting around a teapot. To the left of them on the near shore of the river is a large tree where boats (3) are tied. The broad expanse of the river extends beyond with the farther shore clad in dark green forests of conifers. The Teruo range of mountains forms the distant horizon.