Rainstorm, Shono, from the series the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (Hoeido edition)

The houses at the bottom of the slope are probably those at Shono station. This pictures a palanquin and individual travelers—caught in a driving rain while on their way to the next station—searching frantically for shelter. The palanquin bearers are keeping their balance with walking sticks so as not to jostle the inside of the palanquin, and the passenger inside has a firm right hand grip on the frame of the palanquin to keep from being thrown off. The two going down the slope are being blown about by a headwind, one is closing up his umbrella while the other holds onto his bamboo hat with one hand, and they are running back to Shono station. The bamboo grove in the background is being blown to the left by the driving rain. The sense of speed in the people, and the tight compositional lines created by the leaning bamboo evoke a sense of urgency.