Old Photos

Famous places of the Meiji and Taisho eras, in photos from the National Diet Library, Japan.
No need to make anything. Just take your time and look around.

Photo name, location, or source title Area

Search terms are counted anonymously. Please don't enter names or contact details.

Clear filters

Era

All
Meiji118
Taisho1
Early Showa0
Unknown0

Type

All
Castles0
Temples2
Shrines1
Bridges0
Ports0
Parks0
Stations0
Street scenes2
Buildings3
Landscapes1
Portraits91
Other18

Subject

People and daily life

People109
Men18
Women107
Children3
Townspeople1
Samurai1
Travelers1
Courtesans1
Pleasure quarters4
Geisha61
Kimono118
Traditional dress91
Festivals9
Processions4
Performing arts9
Kabuki2
Noh1
Tea ceremony2
Daily life13
Shops8

Towns and transport

Cityscapes2
Western-style buildings22
Parks7
Museums2
Art museums1
Bronze statues2
Vehicles21
Trains8
Stations8
Horse carriages2
Rickshaws12
Cars1
Bicycles1
Boats15
Bridges32

Temples, shrines, and sights

Temples66
Shrines34
Torii gates10
Buddhist statues3
Pagodas7
Castles13
Gardens21
Stone lanterns21
Paper lanterns5
Paper umbrellas3

Nature and seasons

Cherry blossoms5
Autumn leaves1
Snow2
Night views1
Sea and coast19
Islands2
Rivers30
Lakes1
Waterfalls1
Mountains19
Hot springs1
Views from above26

118 photos (page 1 of 4) Clear all

Sort: Oldest first Newest first Most popular

京都鴨川の納涼 Cooling Off on the Kamo River, Kyoto Kamo River, Kyoto · Before 1896 (Meiji era)
富士詣で Pilgrims Climbing Mount Fuji Mount Fuji, Yamanashi · Before 1896 (Meiji era)
新富座 Shintomiza (Kabuki Theater) Shintomicho, Tokyo · Before 1900 (Meiji era)
沖縄県那覇通堂街 Tondo District, Naha Naha, Okinawa · Before 1900 (Meiji era)
京都祇園古川丸子 Furukawa Maruko, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園藤田玉 Fujita Tama, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園小泉きし Koizumi Kishi, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園川かつ米鶴 Kawakatsu Yonetsuru, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園中島つゆ Nakajima Tsuyu, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園大田梅龍 Ota Umeryu, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園奥村さめ Okumura Same, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園内藤小秀 Naito Kohide, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園山口小岸 Yamaguchi Kogishi, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園田中君ゆ Tanaka Kimiyu, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園加藤たま葉 Kato Tamaha, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園藤田粟次 Fujita Awaji, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園荒木梅菊 Araki Umegiku, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園みぞ口來賀 Mizoguchi Raiga, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園玉木勝 Tamaki Katsu, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園岩本光子 Iwamoto Mitsuko, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園小原きく松 Ohara Kikumatsu, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園岩井藤葉 Iwai Fujiha, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園佐々木なかゆ Sasaki Nakayu, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園玉木静子 Tamaki Shizuko, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園小島ふく Kojima Fuku, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
大阪南地富田屋小市 Koichi of Tomitaya, Nanchi Nanchi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
大阪南地富田小石 Tomita Koishi, Nanchi Nanchi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
大阪南地富田屋小三 Kosan of Tomitaya, Nanchi Nanchi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
大阪南地富田屋小福 Kofuku of Tomitaya, Nanchi Nanchi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
北新地津川席福光 Fukumitsu of Tsugawaseki, Kitashinchi Kitashinchi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)