Station #16: This rugged mountain pass commanded the most magnificent view of the whole highway. Hiroshige shows travelers who have ventured to the very edge of the cliff to get the best view across the bright blue bay. The view of Mt. Fuji from here, praised in song and verse, is the most beautiful on the Tokaido. The Kyoto side of this pass was a rocky descent that dropped right to the sea. Prior to 1655 the Tokaido followed the shore of Suruga Bay between Yui and Okitsu, along the foot of the cliffs. Travelers could only cross it at low tide and even then it was treacherous when the sea was rough. The mountain was cut through and a vastly less dangerous road completed in 1655 for the convenience of a visiting Korean delegation.

Image Copyright: Minneapolis Institute of Art