Panoramic view of the Toyama Firing Range (戸山射撃場, Toyama Shagekijo) in Okubo (大久保), Tokyo. The state-of-the-art facility was believed to have been the biggest in Asia.
In 1874 (Meiji 7), what was then called Toyamagahara (戸山ヶ原) was requisitioned by the army. A shooting range for the Imperial Guard was established here in 1889 (Meiji 22).
After the Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895), the firing range was developed into a state-of-the-art facility, believed to have been the biggest in Asia. It consisted of seven 300 meter long reinforced concrete buildings into which soldiers shot their automatic and other weapons.
Although originally an isolated location in the countryside, Tokyo soon expanded into the firing range’s surroundings. Therefore, high walls, visible on this image, were built around the compound.
After the end of WWII, the facilities were used by the American Occupation Forces. The shooting range was demolished around 1960. The area now houses the Department of Science and Engineering of Waseda University (早稲田大学理工学部).
This photos is from a private photo album of a member of the Japanese Imperial Guard (Konoe Shidan) who served between 1928 (Showa 3) and 1930 (Showa 5).
Notes
1 Also read Wikipedia: 陸軍戸山学校（りくぐんとやまがっこう）
2 Also read 戸山ヶ原の初めて物語.
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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 (). Tokyo 1920s: Toyama Firing Range, OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN. Retrieved on May 2, 2026 (GMT) from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/792/toyama-firing-range
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