42nd Station: Kuwana

During the Edo period, the castle town of Kuwana was situated directly on the shores of the Kiso River making travel by water easy and enjoyable. The Shichiri no Watashi ferry traveled between Kuwana and Miya, a journey of approximately 17 miles. Many travelers along the road preferred taking ships to avoid crossing the numerous rivers flowing inland between Miya and Kuwana.

In this print two large junks are moored at the mouth of the river while others are sailing away to sea. The elaborate castle compound can be seen high above a stone retaining wall on the right.

In 1871, three years after the Meiji Restoration, the Kansai Railroad built its Kuwana Station, which resulted in shifting the city center farther to the west. At the same time the ferry was banned and ceased to run.