One Hundred Famous Views of Edo No.67Ferry at Sakasai

In the eastern part of Edo city between the Sumida and Naka Rivers, both flowing north to south, was low, marshy land which was difficult for people to live on. Realizing the importance of procuring salt for Edo citizens, Iyeyasu Tokugawa ordered his retainers to construct a canal which crossed the lowland connecting the Sumida River to the Naka River. This canal was named the Onagi River.
The construction of the canal contributed to the development of the lowland, firstly by helping to drain water from the marsh and, secondly, by producing mud that could be used to reclaim the marsh.
Furthermore, the canal became a very important means of transporting goods and people from one place to another.
In light of the value of the canal, additional ones were constructed in a crisscross pattern through the land. One of the canals running parallel to the Onagi River, 1300 metres to the north, was called the Tate River. On the bank of this canal was built a road named Sakurakaido Highway, leading to Sakura in Shimousa Province. The name of the highway was changed Motosakurakaido later on. This canal only went as far as the Naka River, and people who had walked the road on the bank of the canal and wanted to travel farther east crossed the river by ferryboat. The name of the ferry, Sakasai, was named after the village lying on the east bank of the river.
In this print the village can be seen on the other side of the Naka River. Two ferryboats with passengers aboard are near the landing place. One ferry is leaving and the other is approaching.
Not so many people can be seen in this print, as the area was located far from the city centre. Rather than highlight the few people, Hiroshige has depicted several white egrets which have flocked to the shallow riverbed where reeds grow.
The mountain ranges seen dimly in the far distance lie on the Boso Peninsula, which embraces the southeastern part of Edo Bay.