"View near Hongaku-ji Temple on the Old Tokaido. Sadly all that remains of Hongaku-ji, which was important during treaty port days, is the main gate. All the buildings in the complex were destroyed by bombs during the Pacific War. The temple housed the American consulate soon after the port of Yokohama was officially opened in June 1859. The first US Consul, Townsend Harris [1804-1878] relocated to Hongaku-ji from Gyokusen-ji Temple in Shimoda because Kanagawa was the term used in the treaty."
"The temple and its panoramic views of what was once beach, bay and fishing village during the Edo Era, is now the vast sprawling urban complex consisting of Yokohama Station and five department stores (….) The sea disappeared progressively under concrete and steel".
(Patrick Carey, 'Rediscovering the Old Tokaido. In the footsteps of Hiroshige', ed. Global Oriental, Folkstone England, 2000, p. 17)
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