After his stay in Japan from February to August 1961, Hundertwasser began his journey back to Europe on the Trans-Siberian Railway. His future wife Yuko Ikewada accompanied him on the journey, which Hundertwasser documented photographically. The return journey started by ship in Yokohama with the destination Vladivostok. On August 17, 1961, the ship boarded in Yokohama. Yuko Ikewada was bid farewell by her parents and siblings.