- English
- 日本語
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.
About
License any photo!
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
Meiji
|
# 70219-0019 Yokohama 1890s • Bentendori Meiji • City Views Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe |
|
# 70208-0010 Kyoto 1890s • Pagoda at Kiyomizu Meiji • City Views • Temples & Shrines Nobukuni Enami • Albumen Print • Nobukuni Enami |
|
# 70602-0014 Kyoto 1880s • Kiyomizudera Meiji • Buildings • Temples & Shrines Reiji Esaki • Albumen Print • Reiji Esaki |
|
# 70208-0016 Tokyo 1890s • Yoshiwara Brothel Meiji • Buildings • Prostitution Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
|
# 70416-0002 Arima 1890s • Hot Spring Village Meiji • City Views • Scenic Views Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
|
# 80115-0017 1880s • Shinto Priest Meiji • People • Religious Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe |
|
# 70222-0026 Nagasaki 1900s • Buildings on the Bund Meiji • Buildings • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Ueda |
|
# 70314-0026 Kobe 1910s • Fukuhara Brothels Meiji • City Views • Prostitution Unknown • Postcard • Ueda |
|
# 70512-0011 1890s • Kakubeijishi Meiji • At Work • People Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
|
# 70319-0006 Yokohama 1880s • Farms at Negishi Meiji • Rural • Scenic Views Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe |
|
# 70319-0004 Kyoto 1880s • View from Higashiyama Meiji • City Views Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe |
|
# 70319-0008 Hakone 1890s • Rural Road Meiji • Scenic Views • Tokaido Nobukuni Enami • Albumen Print • Nobukuni Enami |
|
# 70419-0004 Himeji 1910s • Himeji Castle Meiji • Buildings • Castles Unknown • Postcard • Kokkidou |
|
# 70314-0024 Kobe 1910s • American Hatoba Meiji • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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 …