1849 Map of the Districts and Countries of Great Japan

This is a spectacular, large format folding map of Japan by Takashiba Ei'San'Yu, dated 1849. The map presents the primary Japanese islands of Kyushu, Honshu, Shikoku and a number of small surrounding islands in a northwestern orientation. It is divided by provinces (kuni or country, here just translated as country) and districts. Main roads, and sea routes with distances are delineated throughout the map. The purpose of the map seems to draw attention to touristy destinations. The author seems to apologizing for not listing more temples and hot springs etc. and advises the reader on how to find more. The Tokugawa period was a period of unprecedented stability for Japan which allowed for a tourism industry to grow. This map came out not too long after Hiroshige's famous travel art 53 stations of Tokaido, a series of prints that illustrated that journey along the imperial road from Edo (modern Tokyo) to the emperor's palace in Kyoto. In his note Takashiba Ei'San'Yu talks about following