Seki: Early Departure from the Honjin (1833–1834)

Highlights

• Station Forty-Eight- Seki, Early Departure from the Headquarters Inn, from the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido by Utagawa Hiroshige — a faithful canvas reproduction of a classic Japanese woodblock print.
• CHOOSE YOUR SIZE & FORMAT: Pick your dimensions and shape right from this listing — vertical, horizontal, panoramic and square options available.
• MUSEUM-QUALITY GICLEE: Fade-resistant archival inks on premium artist-grade canvas, hand-stretched and gallery-wrapped over a solid 1.5" wood frame, hardware attached and ready to hang.
• A REFINED FOCAL POINT for the living room, bedroom, study, home office or entryway — timeless style with lasting appeal.
• HANDCRAFTED IN THE USA: Made to order in multiple sizes and shapes — a thoughtful, gallery-worthy gift.

Description

This woodblock print captures a bustling pre-dawn scene at Seki post town, the 48th of the 53 stations along the Tōkaidō highway, as travelers and attendants prepare for an early morning departure from the honjin — a designated lodging reserved for high-ranking officials and daimyō. Lanterns and bold indigo-dyed noren curtains adorned with family crests illuminate the courtyard, while porters and guests bustle beneath a deep twilight sky. Seki, located in present-day Kameyama City, Mie Prefecture, was one of the most important relay stations on the historic Edo-period road connecting Edo (Tokyo) to Kyoto.