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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
City Views
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# 70420-0024 Kobe 1920s • Hyogo-Ku Taisho • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Sakae Shoten |
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# 70420-0027 Kobe 1920s • Mercantile Houses Taisho • Buildings • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Taisho Hato |
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# 70523-0002 Kobe 1880s • Houses at Bund Meiji • City Views • Transport Unknown • Albumen Print • 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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# 70621-0002 Tokyo 1890s • Yoshiwara Brothels Meiji • City Views • Prostitution Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70621-0013 Tokyo 1900s • Yoshiwara Omon Meiji • City Views • Prostitution Unknown • Postcard • Tomboya |
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# 70808-0001 Nagasaki 1910s • Maruyama Brothels Meiji • City Views • Prostitution Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 70808-0015 Osaka 1930s • Digging Midosuji Subway Showa • City Views • Transport Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 70820-0007 Nagasaki 1890s • Maruyama Brothels Meiji • City Views • Prostitution Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70820-0001 Nagasaki 1890s • View on City and Bay Meiji • City Views • Scenic Views Nobukuni Enami • Albumen Print • Nobukuni Enami |
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# 70820-0006 Nagasaki 1880s • Foreign Settlement Meiji • City Views • Hotels Nobukuni Enami • Albumen Print • Nobukuni Enami |
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# 71205-0005 Osaka 1880s • View on Tennoji Meiji • City Views • Scenic Views Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 80115-0009 Kyoto 1890s • Kamogawa Meiji • City Views • Scenic Views Kozaburo Tamamura • Albumen Print • Kozaburo Tamamura |
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 …