The New York Public Library has just released a collection of colorful postcards from Japan in the early 20th century. These vibrant cards serve as snapshots of this stunning country before Westernization and modernity left their respective marks. Each image illustrates the bustling streets and serene gardens for which Japan is still known today, and every scene pays homage to centuries-old traditions. Taken between 1907 and 1922, these pictures capture the vitality of a country not yet devastated by the course of modern history. The Mint, Osaka

Sacred Bridge, Nikko

Yomeimon, Nikko