Evening Snow at Asuka Hill, from the series Eight Views of the Environs of Edo

Evening Snow at Asuka Hill portrays travelers trudging through heavy snowfall, suggesting themes of hardship and endurance. The print shows heavily clothed figures with umbrellas following a circular path around the hill, where snow-covered cherry trees and wooden signboards fade into the white landscape.

In the upper right sits a large stone, surrounded by a low fence that designates it as sacred. Below, a snow-covered horse being led by its owner reminds us of Edo’s sustainable transportation practices—wheeled vehicles were banned in cities to preserve the roads. Through these elements, Hiroshige’s print suggests connections between environmental sustainability and cultural and spiritual reverence for nature, even in winter’s harshest moments.