One Hundred Famous Views of Edo by Hiroshige Utagawa, Spring No.20 "The Kawaguchi Ferry and Zenkōji temple"

Present view

Painted by Hiroshige in 1856 - 1858

(English)

The Kawaguchi Ferry connected Kawaguchi station and Akabane station. Kawaguchi station and Akabane station were the stations on Nikko Onari Kaido which Tokugawa shoguns used to visit Nikko Toshogu.

Edo people believed that to go to Sukhavati, they had to visit Shinano Zenkoji temple which had a statue of Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Tathagata) once in all their life. But Shinano Zenkoji temple was far to visit.

Kawaguchi station had Kawaguchi Zenkoji temple which had a statue of Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Tathagata). Edo people believed that to visit Kawaguchi Zenkoji temple was same effective as Shinano Zenkoji temple. So Kawaguchi Zenkoji was very popular and Kawaguchi Ferry was crowded.

Now, many things has changed but Kawaguchi Zenkoji temple is still here. You can see it on the upper right corner of the photo (Same position as Hiroshige print). It has the bronze color roof.

(Japanese)

川口の渡しは、川口宿と赤羽宿を繋ぐ渡しで、日光御成街道にあった。将軍家が日光東照宮にお参りする際は、混雑し警備上の問題が懸念された日光街道を使用せず、この、御成街道を使用した。

江戸の人々は、極楽浄土に行く為には、信濃善光寺に一生に一度はお参りしなければならないと信じていたが、唯一の交通手段が徒歩だったこの頃は、お参りは簡単ではなく、同じ阿弥陀如来を祀っていた川口善光寺が人気だった。川口の渡しも、御開帳の日は大変な賑わいだった。

川口善幸寺は、今もそこにある。広重の絵では画面右上に描かれているが、写真でも同じ位置に捉える事が出来た。

Map made in 1880

より大きな地図で 川口のわたし善光寺 を表示