| The east bank of the Sumida River is an area crisscrossed
with canals, which were used to bring goods into Edo. Chief among these waterways
is the Onagi River, which is spanned by the Mannenbashi bridge. This bridge was
once made of wood, and its tall form and arched shape were immortalized in ukiyo-e
woodblock prints created by such master artists as Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)
and Ando Hiroshige (1797-1858). It was one of the most famous landmarks in Edo.
People fond of haiku should not miss the Matsuo Basho Museum nearby. Basho (1644-1694)
was a great poet in the Edo period, and he lived near the north side of the bridge. |
