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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)
Normally ¥4200 - special offer 5% off: ¥3990 (approx. US$53.92 €41.13 £34.10)
Shipping from ¥1950 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$26.35 €20.10 £16.67)
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Furano lavender fields
© Iwamoto Keisuke
Position map

3000: Furano lavender fields

Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan, has a gentler topography, and climate ideal for flower growing. This view, centred on the ornamental arch, provides a wealth of colour, from the lavender fields to the brightly sunlit patchwork landscape beyond.

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 3000 pieces; 102 x 73 cm (40" x 29")
Code: E21509 (21-509 on box)
Normally ¥4200 - special offer 15% off: ¥3570 (approx. US$48.24 €36.80 £30.51)
Shipping from ¥2050 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$27.70 €21.13 £17.52)
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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)
Normally ¥4200 - special offer 15% off: ¥3570 (approx. US$48.24 €36.80 £30.51)
Shipping from ¥2050 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$27.70 €21.13 £17.52)
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All about ordering (please read first)

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)
Normally ¥2500 - special offer 15% off: ¥2125 (approx. US$28.72 €21.91 £18.16)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$16.22 €12.37 £10.26)
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1500 pieces

Dawn over Hokkaido lavender
© Epoch
Position map

1500: Dawn over Hokkaido lavender

A dramatic dawn view of the lavender fields in Furano, Hokkaido. This is one of Epoch's "graded" series (2 kyu), so it is not designed to be easy...

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E14507 (14-507 on box)
Normally ¥3000 - special offer 15% off: ¥2550 (approx. US$34.46 €26.29 £21.79)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$16.22 €12.37 £10.26)
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1000 pieces

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)
Normally ¥2500 - special offer 15% off: ¥2125 (approx. US$28.72 €21.91 £18.16)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$16.22 €12.37 £10.26)
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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)
Normally ¥2600 - special offer 15% off: ¥2210 (approx. US$29.86 €22.78 £18.89)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$16.22 €12.37 £10.26)
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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)
Normally ¥3000 - special offer 15% off: ¥2550 (approx. US$34.46 €26.29 £21.79)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$16.22 €12.37 £10.26)
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Lake Mashuko
© Epoch
Position map

1000: Lake Mashuko

Mashûko - or Lake Mashu if you prefer - is a deep (140 m) caldera lake, with some of the clearest water in the world. What most of the guide books fail to mention is that this beautiful view is rather rare; when I went there, we saw nothing but thick cloud, above, below, and all around.

The wild orange lilies in the foreground are a common feature of the Japanese summer landscape.

(From the Epoch "Power Spot" collection)

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11364 (11-364 on box)
Normally ¥3000 - special offer 15% off: ¥2550 (approx. US$34.46 €26.29 £21.79)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$16.22 €12.37 £10.26)
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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)
Normally ¥3000 - special offer 15% off: ¥2550 (approx. US$34.46 €26.29 £21.79)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$16.22 €12.37 £10.26)
Buy this puzzle Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
Tulips in the waterwheel park, Toyama
© Beverly Enterprises
Position map

1000: 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.

Detail

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: BM71833 (M71-833 on box)
Normally ¥1800 - special offer 15% off: ¥1530 (approx. US$20.68 €15.77 £13.08)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$6.76 €5.15 £4.27)
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500 pieces

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)
Normally ¥1600 - special offer 15% off: ¥1360 (approx. US$18.38 €14.02 £11.62)
Shipping from ¥700 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$9.46 €7.22 £5.98)
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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)
Normally ¥1600 - special offer 15% off: ¥1360 (approx. US$18.38 €14.02 £11.62)
Shipping from ¥600 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$8.11 €6.19 £5.13)
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300 pieces

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)
Normally ¥1200 - special offer 5% off: ¥1140 (approx. US$15.41 €11.75 £9.74)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$6.76 €5.15 £4.27)
Buy this puzzle Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)