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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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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
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# 70604-0017 Tokyo 1880s • Shintomiza Theater Meiji • Buildings • City Views Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 80129-0025 Hakone 1890s • Three Women in Bath Meiji • Customs • Women Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 80129-0046 1890s • Women Dressing Meiji • Women Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70531-0028 1890s • Young Family Meiji • Children • People Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe |
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# 70601-0018 1890s • Basket and Broom Peddler Meiji • At Work • People Nobukuni Enami • Albumen Print • Nobukuni Enami |
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# 80421-0009 Osaka 1870s-1880s • View from Enokojima Meiji • Buildings • City Views Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70601-0021 1890s • Farmer with Loaded Horse Meiji • At Work • Transport Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70314-0020 1904 • Feeding Silk Worms Meiji • At Work • Women Julian Cochrane • Glass Slide • Keystone View Company |
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# 70820-0011 1890s • Temizu Meiji • Customs • Women Reiji Esaki • Albumen Print • Reiji Esaki |
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# 70219-0018 1890s • Lantern Craftsman Meiji • At Work • Shops Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 80201-0047 1900s • Ainu Chief Meiji • Ainu • People Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 80626-0012 1880s • Ainu Man Meiji • Ainu • People Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 80717-0015 1900s • Ainu Family Meiji • Ainu • Children Unknown • Glass Slide • Unknown |
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# 70219-0021 1890s • Doctor Taking Pulse Meiji • At Work • People Unknown • Albumen Print • 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.
Thank you, Sraige!
Hi, Nice addition to the subway’s story. In light of Gochisousan, which has recently become available …
@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 …