Wood Block Print 1)!
15th Station: Kambara (presently Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City) in the snow!

Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese: 歌川 広重), also Andō Hiroshige (Japanese: 安藤 広重; 1797 – 12 October 1858) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, considered the last great master of that tradition.
Hiroshige is best known for his landscapes, such as the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō.

Map of old Sumpu/Shizuoka City at the crossroads by the Mitsukoshi-Isetan Department Store.

Although you can see all 53 wood block prints at the Hiroshige Museum in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, did you know you can see 42 (that what I counted and took in pictures yesterday although I’ll double check today!) of them daily if you walk along Gofuku Cho Street?

“Fuchu”

They concentrated on both sides of Gofuku Cho Street between Mitsukoshi-Isetan Department Store and Shizuoka Bank Headquarters Building.
As far as I know, the order seemed haphazard and I found only 42 of the 53 wood bock prints but I will hav e to double check!

I just realized yesterday I had been walking past them for years. The reason for this crazy miss is that people have the habit of stacking their bicycles against the red granite pedestals on which they stand.
A real pity as the stands themselves are carved into beautiful reliefs , all different!
I sometimes wish that the Japanese, and the Shizuokaites in particular, gave a little more respect and recognition for their culture…

Alright, there is no point crying about it, let me take you along, then!
And don’t forget your camera or sketch book!

Pedestal 1) A porter?

Wood Block Print 1)!
15th Station: Kambara (presently Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City) in the snow!
Actually Hiroshige never traveled in the snow and drew this picture from his own imagination!

Pedestal 2) Mother and Child

Wood Block print 2)
13th Station: Hara (presently in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture)

Pedestal 3) Hiroshige traveling on a horse?

Wood Block print 3)
12th Station: Numazu (Shizuoka Prefecture)

Pedestal 4) Geisha

Note: I started moving bicycles away without any ceremony form that point!
Passers-by just ignored me! LOL

Wood Block Print 4)
14th Station: Yoshiwara (Just between Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City and Fuji City)

Pedestal 5) Farmer Housewife and son?

Wood Block Print 5)
16th Station: Yui, Shimisu Ku, Shizuoka City

Pedestal 6) Young Lord or Kabuki actor?

Wood Block Print 6)
18th Station: Ejiri (presently Shimizu harbor, Shimizu ku, Shizuoka City)

Pedestal 7) Boy hanging onto a branch or bar
How do I know it is a boy/ Look carefully! LOL

Wood Block Print 7)
20th Station: Mariko (presently in Shizuoka City)

The same was reproduced on a Japanese commemorative stamp!

Pedestal 8) A tired porter!

Wood Block print 8)
22nd Station: Fujieda (Fujieda City. Shizuoka Prefecture)

Pedestal 9) Servant sweeping with a broom

Wood Block Print 9)
24th Station: Kanaya (presently in Shimada City. Crossing of the Oi River. Shizuoka Prefecture)

Pedestal 10) Porter

Wood Block print 10)
26th Station: Kakegawa (Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture)

To be continued….

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City