The Tsukiji Hotel in Tokyo (Tokyo Tsukiji hoteru kan) 1870

"The Tsukiji Hotel in Tokyo (Tokyo Tsukiji hoteru kan)" is a woodblock print from 1870 by Utagawa Hiroshige III, showcasing a bustling scene of Western influence on traditional Japanese life. The print depicts a paddle steamer, the "City of Yedo," and the Tsukiji Hotel in Tokyo. The artist masterfully captures the dynamic interaction between the modern steamboat, bearing the American flag, and the traditional Japanese architecture of the hotel. Mt. Fuji rises in the distance, symbolizing both the country's natural beauty and its historical past. This intricate woodblock print, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the rapid modernization of Japan during the Meiji Restoration era.