This is a view looking down from quite a high spot. Many people are crossing the Oi-river from Shimada station.

This river was famous as the most difficult one to cross. After heavy rain the water level went up so much that people were sometimes forced to wait for many days.

On the center left of the image a palanquin for high rank person is seen and many samurai carrying swords are lining up. A huge amount of luggage and some horses are waiting for their turn. Yes, this is clearly a Daimyo procession. At the end of the long line, common travelers are seen patiently waiting for their turn.

The group of mesh like objects that are placed in the very foreground and the right side are barriers to protect the river banks from erosion.

Seeing this kind of image I wonder about those days - did time pass much more slowly - and were people used to waiting patiently? (S.I.)