Amazing Vintage Japanese Travel Posters Free To Print

Japan is definitely high up on my bucket list of places to visit. Here I have curated a collection of vintage Japanese travel posters.

Having grown up in Hong Kong I do have a soft spot for Asian cities. Even though I’ve traveled to many, I have never made it to Tokyo and Japan.

Some people seem to think that Tokyo would be a bit like Hong Kong. Even though I haven’t visited, I don’t think that would be the case. I think Tokyo is as similar to Hong Kong as Paris is to London. That is they are totally different.

Being a big sports fan next year would be a good time to visit Japan with the Olympics being held in Tokyo.

The rugby world cup is currently being held in the city. I couldn’t believe Japan beat Ireland in the rugby last weekend. But I was really happy to see the underdogs win at home.

A Little Bit About Japan

Japan is the fourth-largest island country in the world and the second-most populous. The population of Japan is about 126 million.

As it lies off the eastern coast of the Asian continent that is why Japan is known as “the land of the rising sun”.

Japan is a highly developed country with one of the world’s lowest infant mortality rates and one of the highest life expectancies.

The Japanese passport is considered the number 1 passport in the world. As the holders of a Japanese passport can travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to 189 countries and territories in the world.

These vintage Japan travel posters include some of the country’s most popular natural sites and mountains. These natural elements are a common theme in Japanese art as can be seen with these prints from the Shin-bijutsukai magazine.

With a population of over 38 million,  Greater Tokyo may be the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. However, almost 75% of Japan is either forest or mountains which makes it difficult to farm and industrialize.

Not only is the terrain difficult to colonize the country sits along the “Pacific Ring of Fire”. This is why Japan has many volcanoes and experiences many earthquakes.

The Vintage Travel Posters Of Japan

All of the following Japanese travel posters are from the 1930s. They were made by the Japanese Government Railways. You might want to check out these vintage maps of Japan too.

1. 1930’s Japan Travel Poster – Yamanashi

The first Japanese travel poster illustrates the natural scenery of the Yamanashi area of Japan. The area is a popular tourist destination due to the prefecture’s proximity to Tokyo and great rail connections.

The favourite tourist spots to visit are  Mount Fuji, the Fuji Five Lakes region, the highland resort region of Kiyosato, the city of Kōfu, the Senga Falls, Koshuwinerie.

2. Travel Poster – Autumn in Nagoya

This next, vintage Japanese travel poster illustrates autumn in Nagoya. The famous Nagoya Castle is the building in the picture.

Built-in 1612 Nagoya Castle is one of Japan’s most well-known castles and is considered a national treasure.

3. Japanese Travel Poster – Tenryu River boat tour

The Tenryū River Valley is within the Tenryū-Okumikawa Quasi-National Park with the Tenryū-kyō gorges. It is a popular tourist destination as it has been classed as a national place of scenic beauty in Japan.

4. Travel Poster – Obama, Fukui Japan

This next Japanese travel poster is of Obama in Fukui.

5. Japan Tourist Poster – Yunoyama Onsen

Another vintage travel poster in this collection featuring an autumnal scene of red leaves. This one is of the Yunoyama Onsen famed for its hot springs.

6. Vintage Travel Poster of Yōrō Falls Japan

This next poster is a summer scene at the Yōrō falls.

7. Vintage Japan Tourist Poster – Hakusan

Another lovely old tourist print of Japan. This one is of Mount Hakusan (white mountain), a dormant volcano. Along with Mount Tate and Mount Fuji, it is one of Japan’s “Three Holy Mountains“.

8. Mount Kirishima – Japan

This beautiful Japanese travel print is of Mount Kirishima which is an active volcano.

9. Vintage Japanese Travel Posters – Mount Tate

Mount Tate along with Mount Fuji and Mount Hakusan, is one of Japan’s “Three Holy Mountains.” On clear days, climbers can see Shōmyō Falls (the tallest waterfall in Japan) across the valley.

Which one is your favorite? Mine is number 7 of Mount Hakusan. I love the colors and the Japanese calligraphy in the poster.

There is another Japanese Travel poster print with this Cherry Blossom drawing collection.

If you like Japanese art prints then check out the two collections I have on Picturebox blue from old art magazines. The first is from the Shin-Bijutsukai and the second Watanabe Seitei prints from the Bijutsu Sekai.

If you like these vintage Japanese travel posters then you should check out the amazing Japanese woodblock prints of Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Or the wonderful collection of vintage airline posters.

You might also want to check out these other collections on Picture Box Blue.

• Traditional Chinese Patterns
• Vintage Circus Posters
• Antique World Maps