24th Station: Kanaya

This scene is almost the mirror image of the previous scene of the 23rd Station: Shimada. Kanaya was built up on the right bank of the Oi River. This print depicts a daimyo procession, on sankin kotai, crossing the river. The daimyo rides in a kago, held above the water by a make-shift platform carried by numerous porters, indicating his high rank. His retainers attempt to wade cross the river towards the small village seen in the foothills in the background.

As in Shimada, travelers were unable to leave after heavy rains made the river too deep to wade across. During the Edo period there were over 1,000 buildings in this post town.