Old Photos

Famous places of the Meiji and Taisho eras, in photos from the National Diet Library, Japan.
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Era

All
Meiji109
Taisho17
Early Showa1
Unknown0

Type

All
Castles2
Temples10
Shrines9
Bridges5
Ports2
Parks6
Stations1
Street scenes9
Buildings5
Landscapes9
Portraits37
Other32

Subject

People and daily life

People127
Men23
Women110
Children4
Townspeople1
Samurai2
Travelers1
Courtesans1
Pleasure quarters4
Geisha61
Kimono119
Traditional dress91
Festivals12
Processions5
Performing arts9
Kabuki2
Noh1
Tea ceremony2
Daily life20
Shops13

Towns and transport

Cityscapes5
Western-style buildings37
Parks10
Museums3
Art museums1
Bronze statues3
Vehicles27
Trains11
Stations13
Horse carriages2
Rickshaws13
Cars1
Bicycles3
Boats28
Bridges42

Temples, shrines, and sights

Temples78
Shrines39
Torii gates11
Buddhist statues4
Pagodas9
Castles23
Gardens22
Stone lanterns25
Paper lanterns5
Paper umbrellas3

Nature and seasons

Cherry blossoms7
Autumn leaves2
Snow6
Night views1
Sea and coast35
Islands2
Rivers43
Lakes1
Waterfalls3
Mountains35
Hot springs6
Views from above44

127 photos (page 1 of 5) Clear all

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上野三枚橋遠景 The Sanmai Bridges at Ueno from Afar Ueno, Tokyo · Before 1893 (Meiji era)
安藝の宮島（日本三景の一） Miyajima, One of the Three Views of Japan Itsukushima Shrine, Hiroshima · Before 1896 (Meiji era)
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)
錦帯橋 Kintai Bridge Kintai Bridge, Yamaguchi · Before 1900 (Meiji era)
八幡社祭礼 Hachiman Shrine Festival Hida, Gifu · Before 1900 (Meiji era)
藤崎呉服店 Fujisaki Kimono Store Sendai, Miyagi · Before 1900 (Meiji era)
上野停車場の祭典盛況 Festival Crowds at Ueno Station Ueno, Tokyo · Before 1900 (Meiji era)
新富座 Shintomiza (Kabuki Theater) Shintomicho, Tokyo · Before 1900 (Meiji era)
青森（ねぶた祭） Nebuta Festival, Aomori Aomori · Before 1900 (Meiji era)
相馬の馬祭 Horse Festival of Soma Soma, Fukushima · Before 1900 (Meiji era)
小西旅店 Konishi Inn Takamatsu, Kagawa · Before 1900 (Meiji era)
沖縄県那覇通堂街 Tondo District, Naha Naha, Okinawa · Before 1900 (Meiji era)
上野公園桜花 Cherry Blossoms in Ueno Park Ueno, Tokyo · Before 1902 (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)
北新地銀杏席房龍 Fusaryu of Ichoseki, Kitashinchi Kitashinchi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
大阪北新地平田席力榮 Rikiei of Hirataseki, Kitashinchi Kitashinchi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
大阪南地富田屋春菊 Shungiku of Tomitaya, Nanchi Nanchi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
大阪南地富田屋八千代 Yachiyo of Tomitaya, Nanchi Nanchi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
大阪南地富田屋ふく Fuku of Tomitaya, Nanchi Nanchi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
大阪南地桂屋つや子 Tsuyako of Katsuraya, Nanchi Nanchi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
大阪南地桂屋豊子 Toyoko of Katsuraya, Nanchi Nanchi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
大阪新町木原席小時 Kotoki of Kiharaseki, Shinmachi Shinmachi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
大阪新町木原席小勇 Koisami (or Koyu) of Kiharaseki, Shinmachi Shinmachi, Osaka · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園池田小みゆ Ikeda Komiyu, Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
京都祇園鶴谷政治 Tsuruya (or Tsurutani) Masaji (or Seiji), Gion Gion, Kyoto · Before 1903 (Meiji era)
清水龍の手水鉢 Dragon Water Basin, Kiyomizudera Kyoto · Before 1907 (Meiji era)
祇園の櫻 Cherry Blossoms at Gion Maruyama Park, Kyoto · Before 1907 (Meiji era)
永観堂 Eikando Kyoto · Before 1907 (Meiji era)