While we may think of Japan as this insane super modern urban wasteland, it wasn’t so long ago that Japan was a backwards little fishing island that no one payed much attention to. For your pleasure, here are a bunch of “Then and Now” type photos of Japan.

In many ways I find modern Japanese urban landscape to be horrible. Way too may people crammed into way too many cheaply made buildings. Nothing overhead but wires and signs. Seeing these old photos of Japan reminds me of a more simple time. A more simple Japan.

For more photos check out the post at Daily Otaku.