Tokaido Sun'en Oigawa seiran no zu (Clearing storm at the Oi River in Suruga and Totomi Provinces on the Tokaido Road)

The Oi River, which marked the boundary between the provinces of Suruga and Totomi, was one of the most formidable crossings on the Tokaido. Its great width and swift current often made the river impassable when the water level rose, forcing travelers to remain along the riverbank until the waters subsided. While Hiroshige’s depictions of the crossing usually feature numerous travelers, and sometimes entire daimyo processions making their way across the river, in the present design he depicts only a few river porters, with no travelers in sight. They appear to enjoy a quiet moment before the arrival of those who will require their services, while the magnificent view of Mount Fuji in the distance provides a serene backdrop to the otherwise bustling river crossing. According to Alfred Haft, the present fan print may be the only known surviving example of the Oi River design.