Station #40: Guidebooks told people the best places to buy souvenires and the fabrics of Narumi and nearby Arimatsu were particularly famous. Bargaining for your goods was traditional at the elegant shops that we see in the print. It's interesting that Hiroshige showed women travelers in the lead. Narumi was located near a cotton-growing region and was famous for its distinctive tie-dye shibori fabric. Evidence suggests this technique began in the 7th century. The shibori industry began in this district in the early 17th century when residents began to manufacture shibori towels to sell as souvenirs to travelers. By the 19th century the residents of both towns were involved in the production and sale of a large variety of shibori fabrics, featuring all manner of geometric patterns, spots, stripes and even pictorial designs. Narumi is now part of Nagoya, still an important textile center.

Image Copyright: Minneapolis Institute of Art