As you scroll through the map you visit each station in turn. Sorami's map displays the route of the Tōkaidō road and the 53 stations along its route. I actually have a number of Hiroshige's prints adorning the walls of my home and it is fantastic to be able to use Sorami's map to learn more about each station which is depicted in these prints.

You can now explore Hiroshige's Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō on an actual map of the route on Sorami Hisamoto's interactive scollytelling map Tokaido Middle Scroll Chestnut Hair.

In creating the prints Hiroshige made use of the numerous sketches he made on his trip to Kyōto and on the return journey to Edo. The artist Utagawa Hiroshige created a series of beautiful ukiyo-e woodcut prints of each of the 53 stations of the Tokaido after he first traveled the road in 1832. The stations provided stabling for horses, and lodging and food for weary travelers. Along the Tōkaidō road were 53 government-sanctioned post stations (shukuba) where travellers were able to rest. The road was the major trade and pilgrimage route between the two cities, and it was also used by the shōgun and his entourage when they traveled between Edo and Kyōto. The Tōkaidō road in Japan, linked Edo, the shōgun's capital, to the imperial capital of Kyōto. For example the Melbourne Cricket Ground was once a gathering place for the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Government House was a gathering place for the Bunurong Boon Wurrung. The map also allows you to discover what used to exist in some of modern Melbourne's significant locations. For example you can learn the creation story of the Koala bear by reading the tale of Koob-borr. The map contains a number of map markers which provide information about the stories and the rich history of Traditional Owners. If you need a little help in navigating this pre-urban environment you can turn on layers which overlay Melbourne neighborhoods and significant buildings and landmarks on the map. Instead the map shows a landscape that is filled with trees, rivers and lakes. The traditional custodians of the land where Melbourne now stands were the Wurundjeri, Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung peoplesĪt first glance this map of Melbourne may be hard to navigate as this is a map of the land before the construction of noisy roads and ugly buildings. Mapping Aboriginal Melbourne is an interactive map which celebrates the Australian city's First Nation history.

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