Meisho-e is the Japanese term for an ukiyo-e picture showing a famous place or scenic landmark.
The term combines meisho, meaning a famous or celebrated place, with e, meaning picture. Meisho-e became especially important as publishers responded to growing travel interest and the popularity of views associated with particular locations. Prints could show bridges, temples, mountains, roads, rivers, and seasonal sights.
Hiroshige’s One Hundred Famous Views of Edo is one of the best-known examples of this subject category. Hokusai’s landscape prints also frequently present recognizable locations, although the Mount Fuji series has a more specific organizing theme.
Meisho-e should not be confused with bijin-ga, pictures of beautiful women, or musha-e, pictures of warriors. Ukiyo-e categories can overlap in practice: a scenic print may include travelers, actors, or famous figures, but its principal subject remains a notable place.