OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN, a photo blog of Japan in the Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods

Old Photos of Japan
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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Good Book Tip
Felice Beato: A Photographer on the Eastern Road • Anne Lacoste, Fred Ritchin

Felice Beato (1832–1909) lived and worked in Japan from 1863 through 1884, just as the country opened its doors to the world. He was extremely active in Japan, and portrayed the Japanese with dignity and as equals of Westerners. He was the first photographer in Japan to sell albums of his works. Most likely, it was Beato that introduced the later so diligently followed concept of “views” and “types” to photography of Japan.


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Buildings

Enokojima and Osaka City View # 80421-0009
Osaka 1870s-1880s • View from Enokojima
Meiji • Buildings • City Views
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Osaka Station # 80717-0016
Osaka 1900s • Osaka Station
Meiji • Buildings • Railways
Unknown • Glass Slide • Unknown
Osaka City Office # 70216-0058
Osaka 1920s • Osaka City Hall
Taisho • Buildings • City Views
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown
Municipal Building, Kyoto, Japan (May 1934). # 80122-0012
Kyoto 1934 • City Hall
Showa • Buildings • City Views
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
Nectarine (No 9) Brothel, Yokohama # 70606-0003
Yokohama 1890s • Nectarine No. 9 Brothel
Meiji • Buildings • Prostitution
Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe
Koinobori Streamers and Typical Rural Houses near Nara, Japan (May 1934). # 80122-0014
Nara 1934 • Rural Houses
Showa • Buildings • Rural
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
Japan. Tokyo. Extensive Private Garden, Pool of Water, bridge, Pagoda, Flowers and Trees # 80121-0003
Tokyo 1924 • Large Private Garden
Taisho • Buildings • Customs
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
Japan. Dwelling, Two Women Standing at Entrance. Lantern # 80121-0001
1924 • Entrance of a House
Taisho • Buildings • Women
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
Kiyomizudera in Kyoto # 70602-0014
Kyoto 1880s • Kiyomizudera
Meiji • Buildings • Temples & Shrines
Reiji Esaki • Albumen Print • Reiji Esaki
Brothel in Yoshiwara, Tokyo # 70208-0016
Tokyo 1890s • Yoshiwara Brothel
Meiji • Buildings • Prostitution
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Oriental Hotel, Kobe # 70124-0019
Kobe 1910s • Oriental Hotel
Taisho • Buildings • Hotels
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown
Hong Kong Shanghai Bank and Nagasaki Hotel on the Bund, Nagasaki # 70222-0026
Nagasaki 1900s • Buildings on the Bund
Meiji • Buildings • City Views
Unknown • Postcard • Ueda
Himeji Castle # 70419-0004
Himeji 1910s • Himeji Castle
Meiji • Buildings • Castles
Unknown • Postcard • Kokkidou
View on Mercantile Houses in Kobe # 70420-0027
Kobe 1920s • Mercantile Houses
Taisho • Buildings • City Views
Unknown • Postcard • Taisho Hato