Japan Travel Poster by Mune Satomi, 1937

First published in 1937, Japan by Mune Satomi is a classic Art Deco travel poster that captures the optimism and velocity of modern travel in the late Shōwa era. Satomi—an accomplished Japanese commercial artist active in the 1930s—worked in the golden age of poster design, blending the streamlined geometry of European Deco with the clarity and restraint of Japanese graphic traditions. Here, sweeping forms, sleek typography, and a quietly patriotic motif come together to celebrate a nation on the move.

This listing offers a premium fine art reproduction of Satomi’s poster, available as a museum-grade giclée on acid-free archival paper or as a richly textured artist’s cotton canvas. Choose from a range of sizes to suit intimate corners or statement walls, with optional custom framing, matting, and margin settings. The Unique Maps Co. can also personalize your print with a dedication, caption plate, or bespoke sizing to fit your space perfectly.

About the artist: Although detailed records of Mune Satomi’s career are scarce, the work reflects the thriving ecosystem of Japanese poster studios in the 1930s—where illustrators and typographers created bold, forward-looking imagery for railways and tourism boards. Satomi’s visual language is unmistakably Deco: simplified silhouettes, dynamic diagonals, and impeccable balance between figure and ground, all serving a message of speed, style, and national confidence.

About the subject: This poster focuses on the exhilaration of rail travel across Japan’s varied landscapes, a powerful symbol of modernization at the time. Parallel tracks rush toward a bright horizon, an elegant shorthand for progress and connectivity, while a subtle Japanese flag element adds a note of cultural pride. The crisp, sans-serif “JAPAN” lends instant legibility and a cosmopolitan polish—just the sort of typography that defined interwar travel advertising across the globe.

Color and design: A vibrant palette of green, brown, and blue structures the scene—lush greens for hills and fields, earthy browns for the embankments and track bed, and cool blues suggesting open sky and distant water. Smooth gradient shading creates depth without clutter, and the long, sweeping curves convey motion even at rest. It’s a poster that reads beautifully from across a room, yet rewards close viewing with refined tonal transitions—ideal for interiors ranging from Mid-century and Art Deco to Japandi and contemporary minimalism.

Whether you’re commemorating a memorable trip, inspiring a future journey, or curating a collection of classic travel art, this print makes a thoughtful and timeless gift. Perfect for birthdays, Christmas, housewarmings, and occasions like Father’s Day or Mother’s Day—especially for design lovers, Japanophiles, and rail enthusiasts.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (60x90cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.