old Japan
These aren’t illustrations or romanticized stories – just normal Japanese people as they lived over a century ago.
Just be sure you’re wearing proper 19th-century attire – you don’t want to get any funny looks.
If you’re anything like us, you love old stuff from Japan. The temples, shrines, centuries-old festivals, and museums are some of our favorite things to check out when we have free time. There’s just something absolutely captivating about all the relics of the past that live on in Japan–but they’re just not quite as good as time travel! Come on, scientists, we want to hang out with Nobunaga! Well, while we’re waiting for Doc Brown to get back with the DeLorean, we can still at least look at old photos of Japan.
Though you might think there aren’t many–after all, it wasn’t like the samurai were running around with smartphones, snapping selfies–it turns out that there may be quite a few more than we realized! After a few hours clicking around the Internet, we’ve come up with our six favorite sites for finding old photos of Japan. Be sure to check them out and see what life was like over a hundred years ago!
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Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
Drink vending machines disappearing in Japan as number drops to lowest in 30 years
Downtown Tokyo’s meaty monster Kaibutsu ramen will challenge your stomach, thrill your taste buds
Mr. Sato discovers his inner beaver with a 16-inch chocolate “twig” at Tokyo Station
Japan’s unofficial but approved Ghibli anime cafe is opening a new branch and looking for staff
These creative, fanciful post boxes from Japan will delight you in so many ways【Photos】
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Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view- Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain- Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
- Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
Monthly
- Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
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Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list- Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
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Drink vending machines disappearing in Japan as number drops to lowest in 30 years
Downtown Tokyo’s meaty monster Kaibutsu ramen will challenge your stomach, thrill your taste buds
Mr. Sato discovers his inner beaver with a 16-inch chocolate “twig” at Tokyo Station
Japan’s unofficial but approved Ghibli anime cafe is opening a new branch and looking for staff
These creative, fanciful post boxes from Japan will delight you in so many ways【Photos】
Japanese government says country needs more women’s room toilets to meet modern society’s needs
New Travelling Bento pouches turn your luggage into a Japanese lunch box
Genuine Muramasa blade and Muromachi katana on display at Tokyo’s Touken Ranbu store【Photos】
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 2]
Japan now has stricter requirements for foreigners applying for citizenship
Foreign man arrested for walking on Shinkansen tracks, claims he was on the run from yakuza
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
Japan now has a “for foreign tourists only” Mt. Fuji sightseeing train[Video]
If Fast and Furious was about 1970s Japanese truckers, this dekotora would be the star【Photos】
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