Kusatsu was an important station, where the Tokaido and Kiso-kaido joined to proceed to Kyoto.

The subtitle in the square vermilion cartouche is ‘Meibutsu Tateba’, describing this place, which is located between Ishibe and Kusatsu stations, and is famous for Uba-mochi, a kind of rice dumpling coated with sweet bean paste.

Inside the spacious teahouse, workers are preparing their specialty and many travelers are resting and enjoying the food.

The road in front of the teahouse is the Tokaido itself. The palanquin seen on the left is carried by five people, all running: one is pulling with a rope, two are carrying, one is pushing from behind, and the last person is shouting. It is obviously an express palanquin. The person inside is holding a cloth strap hung inside to prevent him from being shaken off.

The large load carried by four people would seem to be the property of a very high-class person, going by the sign visible on the front (an 'efu').