Meiji Period in Japan: History, Timeline, and Important Sights You Can Still See Today

If you were to visit Japan in the mid-1800s, you may think you’ve stepped back in time to medieval Europe. While the Edo period ensured the country was finally at peace, Japan’s isolation from the rest of the world — and its now-antiquated government structure of an emperor and a shogunate — essentially kept it in the Dark Ages. However, the Meiji period (also known as an industrial revolution and the Meiji Restoration), somehow made up centuries of progress within several short decades.

Keep reading to learn more about the interesting Meiji Era — including how it came to start, the most significant events, and important sites still tourable today.

History of the Meiji Period

The last shogun and shogunate rule ended in 1868, when a coup d’état took place in Kyoto, declaring Emperor Meiji to be the next true ruler of the land. When he assumed power, Emperor Meiji had his work cut out for him — and he reformed the country in little more than 100 years from a feudal, agrarian nation to a formidable player on the world stage.

Politics

At the beginning of the world, Japan was, essentially, a fractured host of feudal lords with no rhyme or reason. Under Emperor Meiji, several important changes were made that completely revolutionized the government.

• The abolishment of the shogunate ensured no warring factions could stir up unrest or disloyalty.
• Emperor Meiji paid all the daimyo handsomely to renounce their lands and titles. This allowed the Imperial government to create, divide, and rule over newly-christened Imperial Prefectures. 
• The abolishment of the current class system that stratified the population. The samurai class in particular caused a major drain on resources that eased when Meiji dissolved the hierarchy.
• The reformation of lands into prefectures allowed the Emperor to create a standard tax structure that would better collect money from the population.
• Taxes were now paid with a new standard currency (instead of goods like in the past) that provided the government with a steady revenue stream for the first time.
• The profits from the taxes collected were funneled back into the country’s infrastructure, creating new telecom lines, railways, and more.

These industrializations, and more, set the stage for Japan to catch up to the rest of the world’s technologies. And, for the first time in seven centuries, political power finally rested again with solely the emperor.

Culture

Before the Meiji period, education was a rare privilege for only the most wealthy daughters of samurai families. For centuries, women were not allowed to receive an education and were thought of as lesser. This resulted in their general inability to hold jobs outside of the home. 

However, the Meiji period was the first time in Japanese history that a standardized education came to both genders, educating boys and girls at the same time without societal class restrictions.

The transformation of cultural identity was almost as significant as the industrial revolution during the Meiji period. Western influence played a large role, bringing Christianity back to the country, as well as new fashion, technology, and even military weapons. 

Significant Events During the Meiji Period

The vast majority of Emperor Meiji’s decisions during the Meiji period had a lasting effect on the nation. A few in particular stand out as foundational for the rest of Japan’s modern history.

When the borders opened, so did other countries’ ability to trade with Japan. This led to an unfair trade agreement between Japan and the U.S., as well as between Japan and several other countries. Realizing they’d soon become obsolete — or at the very least, other countries’ submissive vassals until they were drained of resources — Japan jump-started its industrial revolution to become a key player in global politics. 

Taking a page from the West’s book on how to govern a nation, Japan instituted a Parliament, a constitution, a bicameral, and even a Prime Minister. While these parts of government seemingly led to colonization efforts in other nations, Japan retained its Emperor. The title of “Emperor,” while powerless in its own right, retained a sense of cultural and national pride. It was the one constant throughout Japan’s volatile history, and the office maintained a sense of comfort and order for the people.

The Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War in the late 1800s brought a sense of national pride, accomplishment, and Imperialist ideology to Japan, which had been the object of invasion for many years before. Now, Japan has won victories against large nations and made the gains of Korea, and Taiwan as an Imperial power. 

Important Meiji Period Sights To See Today in Japan

Hagi

The Mori lords of Hagi, a castle town, were instrumental in bringing about the Meiji Restoration. With their help, the Emperor overthrew the shogun and brought Japan into its next era.

Because the town has avoided natural disasters since the mid-1600s, it looks very similar to its original plan and design. Some of the best places to visit are the Tokoji and Daishoin Temples, where many of the Mori lords remain buried. There are also remnants of the castle town to explore, the ruins of Hagi Castle, and Meirinkan, a schoolhouse-turned-museum that chronicles the end of the last shogunate, Mori lords’ role in that history, and the influential World Heritage Sites of Hagi.

Kagoshima

The Shimazu clan, who lived in Kagoshima, were similarly involved as the Mori lords of Hagi in the downfall of the last shogunate. Today, Kagoshima is a great city that has historical and virtual attractions of its own while providing unmatched hospitality for day trips to other points of interest in the Kagoshima Prefecture.

Reimeikan Museum, which holds permanent exhibits of local history, provides both information about the city’s and clan’s role in the Meiji Restoration as well as an exterior statue of local hero Saigo Takamori. Takamori was a figurehead in the Meiji period around the 1860s and historians believe he died in battle on Mount Shiroyama.

Kamaishi

Kamaishi holds the Iron History Museum, a museum dedicated to the metallurgy industry and the first blast furnace in Japan. When miners discovered magnetite around Kamaishi City, the city quickly became a major producer of iron and steel. Unfortunately, the natural disasters of the area proved difficult challenges for industrialists to overcome and created many setbacks for workers.

Today, you can visit the museum Wednesdays through Mondays for just 500 yen ($3.37 USD). Located adjacent are the ruins of the Hashino blast furnace, a registered World Heritage Site, that visitors can walk through. 

Mietsu Naval Dock Ruins

Considered to be Japan’s oldest shipbuilding dry dock, the ruins of the Mietsu naval dock are registered as a World Heritage Site for their national importance to the Meiji Industrial Revolution. You can visit the Mietsu naval dock ruins in Saga Prefecture near the Ariake Sea.

Japan’s technological prowess today created a unique virtual reality experience at the docks. When you visit, take a side trip to the Sano Tsunetami Memorial Museum and ask about the self-guided tour. You’ll receive virtual reality goggles that allow you to see the docks as they stood originally, as the remains are all but buried now. The virtual tour is free at this time.

Japan’s Industrial Revolution and Imperialism

The Meiji period in Japan marked a significant difference in government, military, and cultural powers in Japan. Gone were the feudal lords making their own decisions and the shogunate warring with the emperor for control of the people. At the end of the Meiji period, Japan had its eyes set on a larger target: the world. As the twentieth century turned, Japanese Imperialism looked for opportunities to make a splash — and make some conquests — in Asia.