32nd Station: Shirasuka

At the time of the rendering of this scene Shirasuka was located very close to the ocean. Here, between the dip in two steep hills, Hiroshige depicts just the suggestion of a daimyo procession by only showing a long line of hats and one piece of luggage. As the travelers walked along they had a wonderful view of the rice fields and the Pacific Ocean in the distance.

Before the 1707 earthquake, there were 27 inns for travelers, making Shirasuka a mid-sized post station. After the resulting tsunami devastated the region, this post station was moved to its present location farther inland on a plateau.