The Shinsaibashi Bridge in Osaka’s Minami district sometime during the 1920s. The Bridge was named after Shinsai Okada, one of four merchants who dug the Nagahori canal that flowed below the bridge.
This image shows the stone bridge which in 1909 (Meiji 42) replaced the steel bridge built in 1873 (Meiji 6). For a photo of the steel bridge, and the history of Shinsaibashi Bridge, see Osaka 1890s • Shinsaibashi Bridge.
The white building in the background is the Ishihara Tokeiten (石原時計店). This was a well-known retailer of watches that moved here in 1915 (Taisho 4).
Besides watches, the shop sold jewelry, and imported luxury items like cameras and musical instruments.
The Secession style 5-storied building was designed by Shiro Mitsuhashi (三橋四郎, 1867-1915).
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Old Photos of Japan aims to be your personal museum for Japan's visual heritage and to bring the experiences of everyday life in old Japan to you.
To enhance our understanding of Japanese culture and society I track down, acquire, archive, and research images of everyday life, and give them context.
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Kjeld Duits
Reference for Citations
Duits, Kjeld (). Osaka 1920s: Shinsaibashi Bridge, OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN. Retrieved on June 22, 2026 (GMT) from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/694/shinsaibashi-bridge-1920s
Kim
What is the tall building?
#000690 ·
Kjeld Duits (Author)
@Kim
The white building is the Ishihara Tokeiten (石原時計店). This was a well-known retailer of watches that moved here in 1915 (Taisho 4).
Besides watches, the shop sold jewelry, and imported luxury items like cameras and musical instruments.
The Secession style 5-storied building was designed by Shiro Mitsuhashi (三橋四郎, 1867-1915).
#000691 ·