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shows photos of Japan between the 1860s and 1930s. In 1854, Japan opened its doors to the outside world for the first time in more than 200 years. It set in motion a truly astounding transformation. As fate would have it, photography had just been invented. As the old country vanished and a new one was born, daring photographers took photos. Discover what life was like with their rare and precious photographs of old Japan.
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MeijiShowa
License all the photos on this site at our boutique photo agency for vintage photographs, illustrations and maps of Japan between the 1860s and 1930s (Meiji, Taisho, early Showa)
Periods
Themes
Ainu
At Work
Bridges
Buildings
Castles
Children
City Views
Customs
Disasters
Hotels
New Year
People
Prostitution
Railways
Religious
Rural
Scenic Views
Shops
Temples & Shrines
Tokaido
Transport
Weddings
Women
At Work
Bridges
Buildings
Castles
Children
City Views
Customs
Disasters
Hotels
New Year
People
Prostitution
Railways
Religious
Rural
Scenic Views
Shops
Temples & Shrines
Tokaido
Transport
Weddings
Women
Places
Arashiyama
Arima
Beppu
Enoshima
Hakone
Himeji
Hiroshima
Inside
Kinosaki
Kobe
Kyoto
Miyajima
Mount Fuji
Nagasaki
Nagoya
Nara
Nikko
Okayama
Osaka
Outside
Shikoku
Studio
Tokaido
Tokyo
Utsunomiya
Yokohama
Arima
Beppu
Enoshima
Hakone
Himeji
Hiroshima
Inside
Kinosaki
Kobe
Kyoto
Miyajima
Mount Fuji
Nagasaki
Nagoya
Nara
Nikko
Okayama
Osaka
Outside
Shikoku
Studio
Tokaido
Tokyo
Utsunomiya
Yokohama
Photographers
Bridges
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# 70219-0003 Osaka, 1905 • Yodoyabashi Bridge Meiji • Bridges • Buildings Unknown • Postcard • Ueda |
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# 71203-0013 Osaka 1920s • Shinsaibashi Bridge Taisho • Bridges • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 80220-0006 Osaka 1910s • Shinsaibashi Bridge Taisho • Bridges • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 80626-0003 Osaka 1870s • The Octopus Pine Meiji • City Views • Bridges Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70822-0003 Tokyo 1890s • Nijubashi, Imperial Palace Meiji • At Work • Bridges Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 71129-0011 Osaka 1910s • Koraibashi Meiji • Bridges • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 70523-0011 Kyoto 1890s • Shijo Ohashi Meiji • Bridges • City Views Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70523-0014 Osaka 1880s • Naniwa Bridge Meiji • Bridges • City Views Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 71205-0016 Arashiyama 1890s • Floating Logs Meiji • Bridges • Scenic Views Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 80115-0011 Yokohama 1873 • Bentenbashi and Station Meiji • Bridges • City Views Kuichi Uchida • Albumen Print • Kuichi Uchida |
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# 80131-0001 Arashiyama 1910s • Togetsukyo Meiji • Bridges • Scenic Views Teijiro Takagi • Glass Slide • B & F Bible Society |
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# 70122-0015 Osaka 1930s • Naniwa Bridge Showa • Bridges • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 70116-0007 Osaka 1930s • Nakanoshima Park Showa • Bridges • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Taisho Hato |
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# 71205-0017 Arashiyama 1880s • Togetsukyo Bridge Meiji • Bridges • Scenic Views Kozaburo Tamamura • Albumen Print • Kozaburo Tamamura |
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OldPhotosJapan.com — a photo blog about old Japan that reads like a book and works like an archive. All the photographs are from the Kjeld Duits Collection and available for licensing at MeijiShowa.com. Use when you need historical photos, maps or illustrations of Japan for your newspaper article, book, documentary, advertising or other project. For questions, contact us.
@Noel: You have amazing eyes, Noel. Without you attracting my attention to the location of the …
As I have that photo in my digital archive it spiked my interest, so I …
@Paula Jeannet: Fascinating. There is an image of Amidabashi Bridge in the Kimbei catalogue, but it …
This image of Amidabashi Bridge is found in a photograph album that appears to be …
@Noel Yes, having that collection will be very helpful. Thanks for the link to Rob’s page …