江尻宿(Ejiri inn town): Where did Hokusai draw his Ukiyoe picture in Ejiri?

Ejiri inn town is in downtown Shimizu ward, Shizuoka city. It used to be Shimizu city until  merger with Shizuoka city in 2003. 

The most popular part of downtown Shimizu is actually the port area, which has shopping malls with Anime theme park, local J-League soccer team shop, seafood restaurants, maritime museums and more. However, Ejiri inn town is on the opposite side of JR Tokaido line. 

There were lots of pine trees planted by the order of lord Hidetada Tokugawa. He was the tird son of Ieyasu Tokugawa, and the second shogun after Ieyasu. This is the only existing pine tree. The pine tree street was called Hosoi no Matsubara. 

Passing by former Kosatsuba information board. There is no information board anymore today. 

Passing by where Edo-side mitsuke guard gate used to be. 

Once upon a time there was a busy inn town here, with 2 honjin, 3 wakihonjin, and 50 hatago inns. 

In Kojoji temple(the red circle), there is a tomb of Nobuyasu Tokugawa, the first son of Ieyasu Tokugawa. He and his mother, lady Tsukiyama, were accused of allying with Takeda clan. Nobunaga Oda angered and ordered Ieyasu to kill Nobuyasu and lady Tsukiyama. Go on Wikipedia for more detail. 

Taking a sharp right turn here. 

On the left by the pedestrian walk, there is a sign that says this was Ejiri inn town. 

One of honjin, Terao honjin, used to be here. 

Walking over Chigo(Child) bridge. People used to believe that when they stepped on the bridge, a child appeared from the water, which they thought it was a Kappa, a water imp. 

At the red circle, there was an information board regarding rules about boats/ships. 

I colored the road bearing left with blue. This is 久能街道(Kuno Kaido), which leads to Mt.Kuno by Nihondaira. Mt.Kuno is where Ieyasu Tokugawa was buried initially. Later the third shogun Iemitsu Tokugawa moved his body to Nikko. 

And Kyoto-side mitsuke guard gate used to be here. 

Lastly, I should mention about a famous Ukiyoe picture of Sunshu Ejiri by Hokusai. Although the title says “Ejiri”, scholars’ opinions seem to divide. There is an indication that this picture describes near Ubagaike pond, just outside of Ejiri inn town toward Kyoto/Nagoya side. However, even from near Ubagaike pond, Mt.Fuji’s trunk should be covered with mountains including Satta pass. Scholars are saying that Hokusai might have described Mt.Fuji that he “wished it to be”. 

(Picture below from Sunshu Ejiri by Hokusai. Art Institute Chicago. Public domain. https://www.artic.edu/artworks/13272/ejiri-in-suruga-province-sunshu-ejiri-from-the-series-thirty-six-views-of-mount-fuji-fugaku-sanjurokkei Accessed in 6/1/2025)

The next stop is Fuchu inn town, today’s Shizuoka city Sunpu castle area. 

References: 

Ejiri-Shuku. Shizuoka Tourism, Exchange and Cultural Bureau, Tourism and MICE Promotion Division. Shizuoka City. https://shizuoka.tokaido-guide.jp/shukuba/5 (Accessed in 6/1/2025)

Matsudaira Nobuyasu. Wikipedia.com. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsudaira_Nobuyasu (Accessed in 6/1/2025)

Stroll map(of Tokaido). AMZ Environmental Design Research Office Ltd. http://shizuoka-tokaido.biz/en/map/index.html (Accessed in 6/1/2025)

Sunshu Ejiri. Wikipedia.com. https://ja.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A7%BF%E5%B7%9E%E6%B1%9F%E5%B0%BB (Accessed in 6/1/2025. In Japanese)