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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
Shops
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# 70314-0030 Yokohama 1900s • Samurai Shokai Meiji • Buildings • Shops Unknown • Postcard • Ueda |
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# 80122-0015 Kyoto 1934 • Furniture Store Showa • Buildings • Shops Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department |
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# 70219-0018 1890s • Lantern Craftsman Meiji • At Work • Shops Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70221-0018 1930s • Pet Bird Shop Showa • Customs • Shops Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 61228-0002 Tokyo 1920s • Asakusa Nakamise Showa • Shops • Temples & Shrines Unknown • Postcard • Seikaido |
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# 80131-0022 Tokyo 1910s • Asakusa Nakamise Meiji • Shops • Temples & Shrines Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 80122-0010 Yokohama 1930 • Bentendori Showa • City Views • Shops Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department |
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# 80121-0011 Tokyo 1934 • Asakusa Nakamise Showa • Shops • Temples & Shrines Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department |
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# 80121-0010 Kyoto 1934 • Kyogoku Theater Street Showa • City Views • Shops Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department |
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# 70216-0062 Kobe 1910s • Sannomiya Taisho • City Views • Shops Unknown • Postcard • Ueda |
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# 80115-0013 1890s • Fruit Store Meiji • At Work • Shops Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 80115-0014 1890s • Vegetable Store Meiji • At Work • Shops Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70124-0004 Yokohama 1900s • Nogemachi-dori Meiji • City Views • Shops Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 70122-0012 Yokohama 1910s • Yoshidamachi-dori Taisho • City Views • Shops Unknown • Postcard • Ueda |
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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 …