Kinryūzan Temple in Asakusa

One of the most iconic views in the series is taken from inside the Kaminari (“thunder”) Gate, the outer of two large gates that mark the entrance to the Kinryūzan Sensōji, Edo’s oldest temple. Since 1635 the gate has been at its current location and is the starting point of Nakamise Street, then as now lined with shops. A characteristic of the Kaminari Gate is the gigantic red lantern, which in Hiroshige’s view is decorated with characters reading “Shinbashi, ” the name of the district that financed the imposing lantern. This is version no. 8, in which the light gray  block was printed in dark gray. The title cartouche, seen on the lantern, changed from green with yellow clouds to yellow with green clouds.