Entrance to the Gankirō Tea House in the Miyozaki District, Yokohama, Bushu - Utagawa Hiroshige II

A 1867 woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige II showing the Gankirō tea house in Yokohama, framed by cherry blossoms.

This woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige II depicts the entrance to the Gankirō tea house, situated in the Miyozaki district of Yokohama. Produced in 1867, the work belongs to the series 'One Hundred Views of Famous Places in the Provinces'. The composition captures a moment of daily life in a port city that had recently opened to international trade.

In the foreground, cherry trees in full bloom dominate the scene, their pink blossoms contrasting with the architectural elements of the tea house. Figures in traditional attire move along the path, providing a sense of scale and human activity. To the right, the structure of the Gankirō is partially visible, featuring characteristic dark timber and decorative details. The background reveals a view across the water, with distant mountains under a sky that transitions from a deep blue at the top to a soft red horizon, a technique often employed in late Edo-period prints to suggest the time of day.

Hiroshige II, a pupil of the master Utagawa Hiroshige, maintained the stylistic conventions of the Ukiyo-e tradition while documenting the changing urban environment of Japan during the Bakumatsu period. The print demonstrates the precise line work and flat colour application typical of the medium. The use of a cartouche in the upper right corner provides the series title, while the artist's signature is placed in the lower right. This print offers a view into the social atmosphere of Yokohama, where the traditional tea house culture intersected with the rapid modernisation of the era. The balance between the natural elements of the flowering trees and the man-made structures creates a structured, orderly view of the district.