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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  • Kjeld Duits (Shamisen Craftsman)

    @Jim Clinefelter Thanks, Jim. I love it when photographers leave their name card like that! Yamamoto’s studio …

  • Jim Clinefelter (Shamisen Craftsman)

    The clue to who took this image is the kanji on the man’s haori, 寫山茂堂 …

  • Kjeld Duits (阿弥陀橋)

    高橋様 明治5年（1872年）、明治天皇の西国御巡幸の際、宮内省御用掛の写真師第一号として随行し、内田九一は長崎を訪れたので、日付を1872年に変更しました。

  • Kjeld Duits (阿弥陀橋)

    高橋様 「OLD PHOTOS OF JAPAN」のドゥイツです。ご案内誠にありがとうございます。 高橋様の情報を追加致しました。

  • 高橋信一 (阿弥陀橋)

    この長崎の写真は明治６年に内田九一が撮影したものです。国際日本文化研究センター所蔵の内田写真館のアルバムYA033に他の九一の写真といっしょに入っています。

Good Book Tip
The Making of Modern Japan • Marius B. Jansen
The Making of Modern Japan

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More book tips

Meiji

Bentendori, Yokohama # 70219-0019
Yokohama 1890s • Bentendori
Meiji • City Views
Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe
Pagoda at Kiyomizu, Kyoto # 70208-0010
Kyoto 1890s • Pagoda at Kiyomizu
Meiji • City Views • Temples & Shrines
Nobukuni Enami • Albumen Print • Nobukuni Enami
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
View on Arima Onsen # 70416-0002
Arima 1890s • Hot Spring Village
Meiji • City Views • Scenic Views
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Japanese Shinto Priest (Photo by Kimbei Kusakabe) # 80115-0017
1880s • Shinto Priest
Meiji • People • Religious
Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe
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
Fukuhara Brothel District, Kobe # 70314-0026
Kobe 1910s • Fukuhara Brothels
Meiji • City Views • Prostitution
Unknown • Postcard • Ueda
Japanese Acrobats # 70512-0011
1890s • Kakubeijishi
Meiji • At Work • People
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Negishi, Yokohama # 70319-0006
Yokohama 1880s • Farms at Negishi
Meiji • Rural • Scenic Views
Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe
Panoramic View on Kyoto # 70319-0004
Kyoto 1880s • View from Higashiyama
Meiji • City Views
Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe
Sanmaibashi on the Tokaido # 70319-0008
Hakone 1890s • Rural Road
Meiji • Scenic Views • Tokaido
Nobukuni Enami • Albumen Print • Nobukuni Enami
Himeji Castle # 70419-0004
Himeji 1910s • Himeji Castle
Meiji • Buildings • Castles
Unknown • Postcard • Kokkidou
America Hatoba, Kobe # 70314-0024
Kobe 1910s • American Hatoba
Meiji • City Views
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown