Defining images of Japan, Rickshaw

Although today the rickshaw is common in many other countries, especially in Asia, it remains one of the images defining Japan because it was invented here in 1869, right after the end of the Tokugawa period. In 1872, there were already 40,000 rickshaws in service in Tokyo, but their numbers are much diminished now.

Rickshaws are still popular in Japan inside the traditional tourist areas, where you can still witness scenes like the one photographed here, in Higashiyama, Kyoto...