Station #38: Yahagi Bridge over the Yakagi River at Okazaki was the longest on the Tokaido, about 1,250 feet, and a great source of pride for the city. Hiroshige emphasizes its length by stretching it across the entire print. A daimyo's process marches across the span, heading towards Okazaki Castle. Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first of the Tokugawa shoguns who ruled Japan for 250 peaceful years, turned Okazaki (#38) and Kuwana (#42) into the two principle military outposts of the Tokugawa government.

Image Copyright: Minneapolis Institute of Art