The Entrance Gate at Enoshima in Sagami Province

Catalog note / 解説

Hiroshige enshrines Mount Fuji within the torii gate of a Shinto shrine, emphasizing the sacred significance of the mountain. Three ladies in identical kimonos are traveling in a group (ko) of pilgrims to Enoshima Shrine. As travel restrictions against pilgrims eased toward the end of the Edo period, many commoners whose movements were otherwise limited took advantage of pilgrimages to visit renowned places around the country, creating a boom in travel literature and art. Pilgrim groups often wore uniforms, explaining the women’s unusual dress. Like Hokusai before him, Hiroshige took advantage of this new market to produce numerous series of prints depicting Japan’s famous sites, many of wh…