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

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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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11/12/2009 (Thursday) Traditional Houses and a Car in a Village on the Tokaido Highway, 20 Miles from Yokohama (1930).
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Unbeaten Tracks in Japan • Isabella L. Bird
Unbeaten Tracks in Japan

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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Tokyo

Ueno Park Hill, Tokyo # 71204-0006
Tokyo 1890s • Streetcar in Ueno
Meiji • •
Kazumasa Ogawa • Collotype Print • Kazumasa Ogawa
Shinbashi Geisha Houses, Tokyo # 71204-0003
Tokyo 1890s • Geisha Houses, Shinbashi
Meiji •
Kazumasa Ogawa • Collotype Print • Kazumasa Ogawa
Ginza, Tokyo # 80717-0021
Tokyo, 1880s • Ginza and Kyobashi
Meiji •
Unknown • Glass Slide • Unknown
Anjincho in Nihonbashi, Tokyo # 80421-0005
Tokyo 1872 • Anjincho in Nihonbashi
Meiji •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Kunaisho # 70416-0006
Tokyo 1880s • Sakashita-mon
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Ginza # 80626-0005
Tokyo 1880s • Ginza Streetcar
Meiji • •
Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe
Shintomiza Theater, Tokyo # 70604-0017
Tokyo 1880s • Shintomiza Theater
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Firefighters # 70518-0030
Tokyo, 1920s • Dezome-shiki
Taisho • •
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown
Men at Work in Front of Nijubashi, Imperial Palace, Tokyo # 70822-0003
Tokyo 1890s • Nijubashi, Imperial Palace
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Asakusa Nakamise # 61228-0002
Tokyo 1920s • Asakusa Nakamise
Showa • •
Unknown • Postcard • Seikaido
Asakuse Nakamise # 80131-0022
Tokyo 1910s • Asakusa Nakamise
Meiji • •
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown
Cars and Street Cars on Ginza, Tokyo (May 1934). # 80122-0006
Tokyo 1934 • Traffic in Nihonbashi
Showa • •
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
Japan. Tokyo. Approach to Asakusa Park and Temple, Toy and Curio Shops (May 1934). # 80121-0011
Tokyo 1934 • Asakusa Nakamise
Showa • •
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
Japan. Tokyo. Extensive Private Garden, Pool of Water, bridge, Pagoda, Flowers and Trees # 80121-0003
Tokyo 1924 • Large Private Garden
Taisho • •
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department