The topic of this study is the cross-cultural comparison between Japanese-style ukiyo-e prints and French Impressionism, with a specific focus on thematic elements including bridges and the natural world. The study will compare the print In the Kameido Tenjin Shrine Compound by Utagawa Hiroshige and the painting Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge by Claude Monet. Contrary to the myth, ukiyo-e prints were considered to be more than just wrapping paper for goods traded between Japan and France. Ukiyo-e prints were deeply admired by not only Japan but many other countries, especially France. With the introduction of the ukiyo-e prints to the rest of the world, France began to draw inspiration from these prints as seen in Monet’s painting Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge. One example of this can be found in the imagery of bridges in the two compositions. The depiction of bridges held local importance to Japan and France but also had a shared cultural significance. While bridges held a more mythological and spiritual meaning in Japan, both Japan and France depict bridges to help convey human connection to the natural world. This is not the only relevant cultural overlap to be found within the two artworks. This comparison will highlight the similarities between Hiroshige’s and Monet’s respective works, in particular the use conceptual elements such as light and airiness, while expanding on specific differences such as the presence and lack of human subjects within these pieces. The information from this study was gathered from various printed academic sources. Knowing the inspirations and similarities in artworks such as these allows us to understand the cultural and global competence that is foundational for positive cross-cultural relations.