The first series of woodblock prints depicting life along the Tokaido, referred to as the HOEIDO series, appeared in 1834 and came to be known subsequently by the name of the series publisher. This series is generally regarded as the finest of the four sets of prints Hiroshige produced between 1834 and 1855.

The GYOSHO series appeared between 1841 and 1842 with notations written in a flowing calligraphic style giving its name to the series as a whole. The line drawings in this series of prints are considered more simple and sketchy than in the others.

The third series of prints, REISHO (1845 - 1853), is also named after the calligraphic style of its written site identifications. The effect here is of the very effective use of saturated colors.

The final set, appearing in 1855, was comprised entirely of vertical (rather than horizontal) prints and is subsequently referred to as the TATE-E (meaning "vertical") TOKAIDO.