This print is a mitate-e (picture that gives allusions to a past literary or artistic work) based on a poem from the early 10th century Kokin Wakashū (古今和歌集, "Collection of Japanese Poems of Ancient and Modern Times"). The poem, by the monk Sosei-hoshi (素性法師), appears in the upper part of the print, and reads: "Looking around, all is woven / So amazingly, so richly with / Willows and cherry blossoms / Miyako of Heian-kyō is now / At the height of Spring" (translation by Yugo Tagaya in "Kyoto in Myth and Literature").

While the original poem describes Sosei's thoughts when looking out at a colourful Kyoto, in this image we see two women "participating" in his poem, looking out over the rooftops of the buildings of the city in spring. A sakura tree behind them is in full blossom, and similar trees appear around the buildings. Gofun (white pigment made from ground seashells) has been applied to the white ground the women walk on and the roofs of the buildings in the background.

The MET has an original copy of the print from around 1767–68. For some reason the first two characters of the poet's name in our Taisho print have been changed from the original print.