Yokohama 1890s The Grand Hotel opened on August 16, 1873 (Meiji 6) and was soon considered the height of Western culture and elegance in Japan. It was located on the Bund and overlooked Yokohama Harbor. (Much more content on the site.)

Yokohama 1900s Antique and art dealer Samurai Shokai at Honcho 1-20 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. It sold silk, porcelain, lacquerware, jade, cloisonné, damascene and more. The company, established by Yozo Nomura (1870-1965) in 1894 (Meiji 27), was one of the most respected dealers in Japan. It even offered financial support to traditional craftsmen, such as silversmiths and lacquer ar..

Kobe 1910s Kobe City Hall was located next to the Local District Court, on the former grounds of Hachinomiya Jinja, a shinto shrine. It was Kobe’s second City Office and completed in 1909 (Meiji 42). (Much more content on the site.)

Osaka, 1905 Yodoyabashi bridge, Osaka. The building on the left is the Osaka branch of the Bank of Japan, located on Nakanoshima island. It was designed by Tokyo University Professor Tatsuno Kingo, and completed in January 1903. What makes this postcard especially interesting is the arch in the back. (Much more content on the site.)

Nagasaki 1910s A crowd of harbor workers load high quality Kyushu coal onto a US army transport ship in Nagasaki. As soon as ships entered Nagasaki Harbor, hundreds of men, women, girls and boys swarmed around them on coal barges, built temporary structures, and started to load the hungry ships with coal. The spectacle was popular entertainment for the passengers. For hours and hours on end..

Tokyo 1920s Streetcars nearby Manseibashi Station in Tokyo as seen from Sudacho. The station, opened on April 1, 1912 (Meiji 45), was designed by architect Kingo Tatsuno (1854-1919). (Much more content on the site.)

1890s A studio photo of two women sleeping in wadded futon bedding with their heads on wooden head supports. It must be Winter as they use two layers for both mattress and cover. There is an ando lamp near their heads. A folding screen illustrated with flowers and birds stands behind it. Near their feet is a hakohibachi (brazier encased in a wooden box) with a tetsubin (iron hot water kettle)...

Tokyo 1890s Boats are docked in front of a long row of warehouses in Koamicho in Tokyo’s mercantile quarter of Nihonbashi. Ogawa was looking towards Yoroibashi, a steel bridge built in 1873 (Meiji 6), which can be seen in the far right of the image. (Much more content on the site.)