Picture Book of Edo Souvenirs, Volume 2
Scenery of Asakusa Kannon
Evening View of Asakusa | As it is a pilgrimage site for the Bando Pilgrimage, there have been many worshippers since long ago. Following the prosperity of Edo, worshippers of all ages have come in droves from the Kaminarimon Gate, passing by the famous nori (seaweed) shops, reaching the corner of Asakusa mochi shops, passing through the Nio-mon Gate to worship at the Kannon temple, finding amusement in the storytelling of Shidoken in the temple grounds, and some even passing through the temple path from the Zuishin-mon Gate to the pleasure quarters.
* "Bando Pilgrimage" refers to visiting the thirty-three Kannon sacred sites in the Kanto region in order.
* "Koushyaku" refers to storytelling.
* "Shidoken" refers to a storyteller from the mid-Edo period, Fukai Shidoken.
* "Asakusa Nori" refers to Asakusa seaweed.
* "Jibari-kiseru" refers to a pipe made of brass or copper coated with tin or gold plating.
In front of the gate, shops selling Nara-cha, na-meshi, and Gion tofu, along with sake shops and tea houses, stand side by side, making it a sacred place of unparalleled prosperity.
* "Nara-cha" refers to Nara-chameshi, rice cooked with roasted soybeans, adzuki beans, or roasted chestnuts.
* "Na-meshi" refers to rice cooked with greens.
* "Gion tofu" refers to tofu cut thin and flat, skewered, grilled, and coated with miso sauce, also known as tofu dengaku.
* "Kyodo" refers to a sutra repository, a building for storing scriptures.
Kousen, Fushi, O-yoji
* "Kannondo" refers to the Kannon Hall.
* "Sanjado" refers to the Sanja Gongen, which is adjacent to the Kannon Hall. It became the Sanja Shrine due to the separation of Shinto and Buddhism in the Meiji era.
* The characters appearing as "nioi" and "fushi" likely refer to kousen (powder added to hot water for fragrance) and fushi (powder used for tooth blackening).
* "O-yoji" refers to toothpicks. It is said that many shops selling toothpicks lined the area around Asakusa Kannon at that time.
Reference: Complete Map of Kinryuzan Senso-ji Temple
"Picture Book of Edo Souvenirs" depicts exactly this area.
In the center of the picture is the "Nio-mon Gate." The "lecture hall" is located around the middle of the right edge, and the "Zuishin-mon Gate" is in the upper left; exiting this gate leads to the temple path. The "Rinzo" (revolving sutra library) to the left of the five-story pagoda is the "sutra hall."
The large building in the center right is the "Kannon-do Hall." The Sansha Gongen visible in the back to its right is the "Sansha-do Hall."
Asakusa Namiki-cho
* "Asakusa Namiki-cho" refers to Asakusa Namiki-machi. It is the temple town on the street leading from the Kaminarimon Gate of Senso-ji Temple to the Komagata-do Hall.
* "Morohaku" refers to high-quality Japanese sake brewed with koji and steamed rice made from well-polished white rice.
* "Ikuta" refers to Ikuta in Settsu Province.
* "Uton" refers to udon noodles.
* "Nihachi Soba-kiri" is soba made with a ratio of 2 parts wheat flour to 8 parts buckwheat flour. Soba-kiri refers to the soba noodles we eat today; it was called soba-kiri to distinguish it from eating whole buckwheat grains without grinding them, or from sobagaki, which is made by kneading buckwheat flour with hot water.
Ueno Cherry Blossom Viewing Scene, Shitaya Sanmai-bashi Bridge
Three bridges are built over the Shinobu River in Shitaya Hirokoji.
In the "Picture Book of Edo Souvenirs," it is written as "Sanmai-bashi," but looking at the "Edo Kiri-ezu" (Edo cut-out map), the bridge in Shitaya Hirokoji is recorded as "Mihashi." Also, another bridge named "Sanmai-bashi" can be seen in the lower center of the map.
It was a bit confusing while researching, but it seems the bridge at Shitaya Hirokoji was called both "Mihashi" and "Sanmai-bashi."
Reference: Toeizan, Kuromon-mae, Shinobu River, Mihashi
The "Shinobu River" flows from left to right through the center of the illustration, and three bridges, the "Mihashi," are built across it.
Ueno
Shimizu Inari, Spring Scenery of Ueno
Spring Scenery of Ueno | When the flowers of Toei begin to bloom, people say, "Let us go to view the flowers," and have their |curtains| carried along. They arrive at the side of the |Kiyomizu| |Chudo (Main Hall)| from the mountain of |Sanno|, and set up their |curtains| wherever there is space, each in their own way. Some play the |koto|, others the |shamisen|, dance, or sing small songs; it is truly a |bustling| |entertainment district|. People of all |ages|, |genders|, |ranks|, and |origins| wave their sleeves and trail their skirts; the colorful scene surpasses even the capital of flowers.
Indeed, at the sound of the |evening| |bell|, one laments the scattering of the flowers, and wonders if snow is falling out of season on the |eaves| of the Chudo. It is a |temple| of |exquisite| |scenery|.
* "Maku utasete" means to set up curtains. To strike a curtain means to hang it up.
* "Tohi" means city and country.
* "Mosuso" refers to the hem of a garment.
* "Iriai no kane" is the bell rung at a temple at sunset to signal the time for evening prayers.
Saying "Let us go to view the flowers" and having curtains carried along
Some play the koto, shamisen, dance, or sing small songs; it is truly a bustling entertainment district
* "Daibutsu" refers to the Great Buddha Hall that was located next to the Monshu-ro.
* "Shimizu Inari" is thought to refer to the Shinobugaoka Inari Shrine (commonly known as Ana Inari).
Ueno, Ueno
* "Shuro" is a bell tower.
Ueno, Ueno
Reference: Shinobazu Pond, Nakajima Benzaiten Shrine
In the back right, you can see the mountain of "Sanno." Immediately to the left is "Kiyomizu," in the center back is the "Chudo" (Main Hall), and to the right in the foreground is the "Ana no Inari" (Hole Inari Shrine). On the central island floating in the middle of the large Shinobazu Pond, you can see "Benten" and "Shoten."
Shinobazu Pond
Shiba Kiridoshi Mamezo-tei Shinobazu Pond
Shinobazu Pond Lotus: At the foot of Mt. Hiei in Rakuyo (Kyoto), an island was built in the lake, and Benzaiten was enshrined there.
The flowers and leaves in the pond fill the surface of the water, hiding its color. The red and white lotus flowers rise elegantly above the ground, and one might truly wonder if this is what the superior lotus pedestal of paradise looks like. It is said that people used to travel by boat, but now it is connected by land. Recently, a new bridge has been built at the back, making it a good passage to Yushima. The number of men and women visiting has increased tenfold compared to the past.
* The phrase "At the foot of Mt. Hiei in Rakuyo, an island was built in the lake, and Benzaiten was enshrined there" refers to the Benzaiten at Hogon-ji Temple on Chikubu Island in Lake Biwa. Kanei-ji Temple was established in 1625, modeled after Enryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Hiei in the west.
* "Shoten" refers to Kangiten (Ganesha).
The red and white lotus flowers rise elegantly above the ground
One might truly wonder if this is what the superior lotus pedestal of paradise looks like
Reference: Shinobazu Pond Lotus Viewing
Shiba Kiridoshi Mamezo-tei
* "Shiba Kiridoshi" is the road leading from Atago-shita to Zojo-ji Temple; the slope between Seisho-ji Temple and Zojo-ji Temple was called Kiridoshi (the cut-through).
On the map below, it is the place written as "Called Kiridoshi" above the left of Dojoji Temple.
* "Mamezo" refers to a Mamezo. A type of street performer. It is said that sideshows, street performers, and theaters appeared on the Kiritoshi.
Shiba Atago
Autumn Moon at Atago
The new trees are lush and deep, and the light of Wako shines brilliantly. Since the 24th of every month is a festival day, there are many worshippers from early morning, and the scenery on the mountain is indescribable. The two provinces of Boso to the east are clearly visible below. The ships returning to the port at Shinagawa Bay are more numerous than the grains of sand washed up on the shore. The rows of rooftops in the castle town of Edo are like the scales of a fish. To the west, Mount Fuji and Hakone are right before one's eyes, a superb view from the mountain with the sight of unseasonal white snow.
* "Hikari kakuyaku" refers to brilliant light. Emitting a great light is called "komei kakuyaku" (brilliant radiance).
* "Soten" means early morning.
Reference: Atago Shrine Main Gate
After passing through the main gate of Atago Gongen, there are two sets of stairs leading to the temple grounds on the mountain. One is the Men's Slope, which goes straight up a steep staircase, and the other is the Women's Slope, a gentler staircase on the right.
Reference: Illustration of the Atago-san Gongen Main Shrine on the Mountain
If you like, please read the first and third volumes as well. 👀
"Picture Book of Edo Souvenirs, Volume 1", "Picture Book of Edo Souvenirs, Volume 3"
Author's Note: I will update this as appropriate when I notice newly deciphered characters, typos, or misreadings. For details, please read the "Self-Introduction / Disclaimer". 📖