Most century-old photographs we see are of landscapes, landmarks, or portraits, and it’s not often we get to see a glimpse into the everyday lives of the people of those past generations. But thanks to one photographer, the daily experiences of local Japanese citizens over 100 years ago have been preserved in rare photographs that can be enjoyed by current and future generations.

The photos were taken by one Arnold Genthe, a German-born American scholar who visited Japan for 6 months in the year 1908. Keeping his camera partially hidden, he walked through the city to capture the seemingly mundane moments of the locals. But what he managed to shoot was far from mundane — from people on their daily shopping run to families spending a day at the beach, the images are now part of a rare, highly intriguing series of the hustle and bustle of a Japanese city over a century ago.