1924 Oobuchi Map of Kyoto

A scarce and detailed map of Kyoto, produced by Oobuchi Zenkichi in 1924 (Taisho 13). Along with text on the verso, it provides a comprehensive guide for visitors and tourists, who were then flocking to the city in increasing numbers.

A Closer Look

Covering both the urban core and immediate hinterland of Kyoto, this map notes the location of dozens of historically and religiously significant sites, illustrating some of the more recognizable, among them Imperial Palace (御所), Nijō Castle (二條離宮), and Golden Pavilion (金閣寺). Outside the city center, additional sites such as schools, factories, and a zoo are labeled and illustrated. (Handwritten annotations near Kyoto Imperial University suggest that the map's original owner visited the institution.) Government offices (府廳) located between the Imperial Palace and Nijō Castle are notable for sharing part of their space with the Red Cross (赤十字社). Red and black swastikas note Kyoto's many Buddhist temples, while miniature torii gates (⛩) indicate Shinto shrines. Additional symbols are explained in a legend at bottom-right. An illustration and text at bottom-left discusses the annual festival held in Shimabara (島原), Kyoto's historic red-light district.

The city's tram or streetcar and light rail networks are traced in red (solid and dashed, respectively), and interurban steam rail lines appear as black-and-white dashed lines, while a table at bottom lists famous sites and their distance to the nearest train and streetcar station. The map is surrounded by a grid consisting of kana on the horizontal axis and numbers on the vertical axis, providing coordinates for streets and sites, which are listed in an index on the verso. An inset map at bottom-right displays the city of Otsu on the shores of Lake Biwa, while one at bottom-left, oriented to the west, covers the mountainous scenic lands between the western outskirts of Kyoto and Kameoka (亀岡).

Verso Content

The verso contains an extensive itinerary (京都市及郊外名蹟勝地巡り) for the city and suburbs, with photographs of famous sites. It also includes a list of festivals arranged by month and, at bottom, the aforementioned street index along with indexes of government offices, schools, temples, shrines, theaters, train stations, and the like, corresponding to the grid on the recto.

Kyoto in the Taisho Era

This map was produced during the Taisho period, 56 years after the emperor relocated from Kyoto to Tokyo (the Meiji Restoration), a move which made Tokyo the undisputed political, economic, and cultural center of Japan. Afterward, although Kyoto lost some of its wealth and prestige, it continued to be a site for regular imperial ceremonies and Shinto festivals. It also remained one of the larger cities in Japan and a draw for tourists and religious pilgrims. The expansion of Japan's rail network in the late 19th and early 20th century made the prospect of a trip to Kyoto more tangible for tourists from throughout the country. Moreover, the city saw its share of modernization projects, including railways, streetcars, a canal leading from Lake Biwa, an electrified rail line to Otsu, and Japan's first hydroelectric facility.

Publication History and Census

This map was prepared and printed by Oobuchi Zenkichi and published by Shinshindō in Osaka in 1924 (Taisho 13). It is quite rare; the present map, along with earlier and later editions dating from 1915 to 1928, are only noted among the holdings of the Nichibunken (International Research Center for Japanese Studies) in Kyoto.