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Jigsaw puzzles from Japan

Flowers in the landscape

Feature page for April 2010

3000 pieces

Himeji castle
© Epoch
Position map

3000: Himeji castle

Famous as the best-preserved example of Japanese castle building, the historical origins of Himeji castle are said to date back to the building of a fort in 1333. From a supposed resemblance to the outstretched wings of a bird, it is also known as "White Heron Castle." Birdlike or not, here it is nicely offset by the banks of azaleas in the foreground.

Himeji Castle website (includes English version)

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 3000 pieces; 102 x 73 cm (40" x 29")
Code: E21507 (21-507 on box)
Retail price ¥4200 (approx. US$51.85 €40.78 £33.60)
Shipping from ¥1950 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$24.07 €18.93 £15.60)
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Tulips in the waterwheel park, Toyama
© Epoch
Position map

3000: Tulips in the waterwheel park, Toyama

A dazzling display of tulips in this park in Tonami (Toyama Prefecture) — and more interest is provided by the five huge waterwheels, the largest 5.5 m in diameter.

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 3000 pieces; 102 x 73 cm (40" x 29")
Code: E21510 (21-510 on box)
Retail price ¥4200 (approx. US$51.85 €40.78 £33.60)
Shipping from ¥1950 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$24.07 €18.93 £15.60)
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2016 pieces

Tulips in the waterwheel park, Toyama
© Epoch
Position map

2016: Tulips in the waterwheel park, Toyama

A dazzling display of tulips in this park in Tonami (Toyama Prefecture) — and more interest is provided by the five huge waterwheels, the largest 5.5 m in diameter.

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E23553 (23-553 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$30.86 €24.27 £20.00)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$14.81 €11.65 £9.60)
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1500 pieces

Furano lavender fields
© Yamamoto Keisuke
Position map

1500: Furano lavender fields

Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan, has a gentler topography, and climate ideal for flower growing. Lavender fields provide a dash of brilliant colour in the summer countryside — and nearly half of the puzzle area is purple blossom, so do note expect it to be very easy!

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E15546 (15-546 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$30.86 €24.27 £20.00)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$14.81 €11.65 £9.60)
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1014 pieces

Himeji Castle with azaleas
© Epoch
Position map

1014: Himeji Castle with azaleas

Famous as the best-preserved example of Japanese castle building, the historical origins of Himeji castle are said to date back to the building of a fort in 1333. From a supposed resemblance to the outstretched wings of a bird, it is also known as "White Heron Castle." Birdlike or not, here it is nicely offset by the banks of azaleas in the foreground.

Himeji Castle website (includes English version)

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1014 pieces; 53 x 38 cm (21" x 15")
Code: E56505 (56-505 on box)
Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$19.75 €15.53 £12.80)
Shipping from ¥800 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$9.88 €7.77 £6.40)
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1000 pieces

Mt. Fuji
© Beverly Enterprises
Position map

1000: Fuji - cool breeze

Daisies sway in the breeze, in this view from the north, across Kawaguchi lake.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: B100125 (100-125 on box)
Normally ¥1980 - special offer 50% off: ¥990 (approx. US$12.22 €9.61 £7.92)
Shipping from ¥1000 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.35 €9.71 £8.00)
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Ama-no-hashidate
© Beverly Enterprises
Position map

1000: Ama-no-hashidate

This is one of the traditional "Three sights of Japan" (along with Matsushima and Miyajima, all coastal sites). A ribbon of old pine trees covers a natural sand spit formation that almost closes the mouth of the bay - the traditional belief is that it is best viewed upside down, with your head between your legs. Of course, you can do the puzzle whichever way up you prefer. This winter scene is not all grey: in the foreground bright pink ume (plum) blossoms poke out from under their covering of snow.

Randy Johnson's travel notes on Ama-no-hashidate
See also : Itsukushima shrine, one of the other "Three sights" - The classic view (2016 small pieces) and Cherry blossom time (1000 pieces)

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: B100135 (100-135 on box)
Retail price ¥1980 (approx. US$24.44 €19.22 £15.84)
Shipping from ¥1000 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.35 €9.71 £8.00)
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Yoshimine-dera
© Mizuno Katsuhiko
Position map

1000: Yoshimine-dera (Mizuno)

Originally built in 1029, this temple stands on a steep mountainside to the west of the city of Kyoto. These globular trimmed azaleas are a common feature of Japanese gardens - and this is a splendid example of a Japanese wall, too. (Read my page on walls.)

What does the name mean?
yoshi
good
mine
peak
dera
temple

Born in Kyoto in 1941, Mizuno Katsuhiko earned a degree in literature from Doshisha University in 1964. Since 1969 he has worked as a freelance photographer, in a lifelong quest to capture the essence of Japanese tradition in his native city, and resulting in publication of some one hundred books of his photographs.

In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: A10336 (1000-336 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$30.86 €24.27 £20.00)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$14.81 €11.65 £9.60)
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Fuji with flowers
© Beverly
Position map

1000: Fuji with flowers

The lake across which we see Mount Fuji is fringed with a wide expanse of the low-growing shibazakura, or moss phlox, a common garden plant in Japan.

Detail
In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: B71370 (71-370 on box)
Retail price ¥2600 (approx. US$32.10 €25.24 £20.80)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$14.81 €11.65 £9.60)
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Norokko sightseeing train
© Epoch
Position map

1000: Norokko sightseeing train

This tourist train ambles through the lavender fields of Hokkaido, its speed kept deliberately low. The name is a meld of noro-noro ("dawdling") and torokko, meaning a simple open-top wagon; the nameplate is written in deliberately imitative characters, so it looks rather like "Joyo" — but this probably doesn't mean anything!

Detail
In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11337 (11-337 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$37.04 €29.13 £24.00)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$14.81 €11.65 £9.60)
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Sunflowers on the Furano line
© Masaaki Horimachi
Position map

1000: Sunflowers on the Furano line

This scenic line, right in the middle of Hokkaido, extends from Asahikawa through Biei to Furano, and the area is famous for its varied colourful fields of flowers. Here a diesel multiple unit passes a sea of golden sunflowers...

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11344 (11-344 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$37.04 €29.13 £24.00)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$14.81 €11.65 £9.60)
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500 pieces

Shirakawa-go in spring
© Yanoman
Position map

500: Shirakawa-go in spring

Blossom surrounds a tiny paddy field as spring comes to this village in the northern Alps.

Randy Johnson's travel notes on Shirakawa-go

In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 500 pieces; 53 x 38 cm (21" x 15")
Code: Y05710 (05-710 on box)
Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$19.75 €15.53 £12.80)
Shipping from ¥600 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$7.41 €5.83 £4.80)
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Murôji pagoda
© Beverly Enterprises
Position map

500: Murôji pagoda

Murôji is a mountain temple on the outskirts of Nara. As is the case with many temple buildings, this pagoda is built in the middle of woods, leaving no ideal viewpoint for photographing it. Here we peer up the stone steps flanked by colourful, if slightly moth-eaten rhododendrons.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 500 pieces; 36 x 49 cm (14" x 19")
Code: B050118 (050-118 on box)
Retail price ¥1280 (approx. US$15.80 €12.43 £10.24)
Shipping from ¥600 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$7.41 €5.83 £4.80)
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Kôdai-ji
© Mizuno Katsuhiko
Position map

500: Kôdai-ji (Mizuno)

Neatly trimmed azalea bushes provide a colour contrast with the building housing the living quarters for this temple.

What does the name mean?
kô
high
dai
stand
ji
temple

Born in Kyoto in 1941, Mizuno earned a degree in literature from Doshisha University in 1964. Since 1969 he has worked as a freelance photographer, in a lifelong quest to capture the essence of Japanese tradition in his native city, and resulting in publication of some one hundred books of his photographs.

In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 500 pieces; 38 x 53 cm (15" x 21")
Code: A05172 (500-172 on box)
Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$19.75 €15.53 £12.80)
Shipping from ¥700 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$8.64 €6.80 £5.60)
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450 pieces

Takayama
© AFLO
Position map

450: Takayama

A well-preserved street in the old part of Takayama, in the northern Alps. The splendid display of wisteria graces the front of the Hisadaya restaurant, which has perhaps provided the colourful parasols. The next building is the Takashima crafts (kôgei) gift shop, so though preserved, the town is still alive.

Randy Johnson's travel notes on Takayama

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 450 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: E08527 (08-527 on box)
Retail price ¥1200 (approx. US$14.81 €11.65 £9.60)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$6.17 €4.85 £4.00)
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300 pieces

Morning mist
© Beverly Enterprises
Position map

300: Mt. Fuji

From the east - a foreground of cosmos daisies.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 300 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: B030112 (030-112 on box)
Normally ¥980 - special offer 60% off: ¥392 (approx. US$4.84 €3.81 £3.14)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$6.17 €4.85 £4.00)
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Himeji Castle
© Epoch
Position map

300: Himeji Castle with azaleas

Famous as the best-preserved example of Japanese castle building, the historical origins of Himeji castle are said to date back to the building of a fort in 1333. From a supposed resemblance to the outstretched wings of a bird, it is also known as "White Heron Castle." Birdlike or not, here it is nicely offset by the banks of azaleas in the foreground.

Himeji Castle website (includes English version)
More castle puzzles

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 300 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: E25083 (25-083S on box)
Retail price ¥1200 (approx. US$14.81 €11.65 £9.60)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$6.17 €4.85 £4.00)
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Zenzanji - wisteria
© Beverly Enterprises
Position map

300: Zenzanji - wisteria

A rather splendid wisteria tree is among the lush foliage surrounding this pagoda at Zenzanji (temple). The building was never quite finished - there are no handrails or windows in the top storey - and the surprisingly beautiful effect of this led it to be known as the "Tower of perfect imperfection".

This temple is situated high in central Japan, a region of clean clean air that spawned the precision engineering industry (clocks and watches), and later the high-tech revolution.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 300 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: B030160 (030-160 on box)
Retail price ¥980 (approx. US$12.10 €9.51 £7.84)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$6.17 €4.85 £4.00)
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Mount Fuji lavender fields
© Epoch
Position map

300: Mount Fuji lavender fields

Mount Fuji seen from a lavender field, across Lake Kawaguchi, to the north of the mountain.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 300 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: E25084 (25-084S on box)
Retail price ¥1200 (approx. US$14.81 €11.65 £9.60)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$6.17 €4.85 £4.00)
Buy this puzzle Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)