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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Unbeaten Tracks in Japan • Isabella L. Bird

In 1878, just 19 years after Japan opened it first ports to the world, and a mere ten years after the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate, an adventurous 47-year old woman from the UK set out to explore the interior of Japan. The country was virtually unknown to Westerners, and a woman traveling only with a guide seemed outrageous. Everybody advised her not to, but she went anyway and wrote this unique and vivid journal of what she saw and experienced.

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Kyoto 1880s • View from Higashiyama

View on the city of Kyoto and the Nishiyama Mountain Range as seen from a viewing platform (展望台) at the Yoshimizu Hot Spring (吉水温泉) at Higashiyama. The path leads to Yasaka Jinja. On this image it does not yet have the electricity poles that would line it later. The scaffolding on the large building along the path suggests that it is under construction or undergoing maintenance (see detailed image below). The green area in the middle of this photograph would in 1886 (Meiji 19) become Maruyama Park. The building from which this photo was taken burnt down in 1906 (Meiji 39).

View of Maruyama
This detail of the above image shows the scaffolding on the building.

Photographer: Kimbei Kusakabe
Publisher: Kimbei Kusakabe
Medium: Albumen Print
Image Number 70319-0004

Quote this number when you contact us about licensing this image.
You can also licence this image online: 70319-0004 @ MeijiShowa.com.

IMPORTANT
Usage of this image requires a reproduction fee.

Reference for Citations

Duits, K. (2008, July 31). Kyoto 1880s • View from Higashiyama, Old Photos of Japan. Retrieved on 2021, Apr 16 from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/310/higashiyama-en

Posted by Kjeld Duits • 2008-07-31

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

Kyoto 1880s • View from Higashiyama