These distinctive town houses are a reminder of the burgeoning of a new merchant class in the late Edo era (late 18th and 19th centuries).
This area of the city of Kurashiki has been designated an architectural preservation area since 1979. If you've read my photo essay on walls, you might be interested to note the unusual arrangement of the embankment here, with courses of horizontally laid stones.
"Walls" in Sano Gallery
An English teacher's tourist photos of Kurashiki
 In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: Y10858 (10-858 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$25.51 €18.80 £14.88)
Shipping from ¥1000 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$10.20 €7.52 £5.95)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
|
This spectacular entrance, Yômeimon, is the central feature of this World Heritage site in Nikkô (Tochigi). The whole site is a Shinto shrine (Tôshôgu) built in the early 1600s to honour Tokugawa Ieyasu, the very first Shogun of the Tokugawa era. Since he was the most powerful man in Japan at the time, perhaps it is not so surprising that for a Shinto building this is unusually ornate.
Other puzzle of this shrine:
300 pieces
In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11119 (11-119 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$30.61 €22.56 £17.86)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.24 €9.02 £7.14)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
|
These gardens around Okayama castle (which we see in the background) were built in the Edo period, taking just 13 years and completed in 1700. Of classical layout, with a different vista at every turn, the gardens are formally known as Kôrakuen, and are regarded as one of the trio of most famous gardens in Japan.
More castle puzzles
In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E10591 (10-591 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$25.51 €18.80 £14.88)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.24 €9.02 £7.14)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
|
The old tea-house in this beautiful photograph would have been a welcome sight greeting a traveller reaching the southern end of this historic road: an old pilgrimage route through the mountains, now preserved as a World Heritage site.
 Out of stock
More stock expected October 16
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: B71313 (71-313 on box)
Retail price ¥2600 (approx. US$26.53 €19.55 £15.48)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.24 €9.02 £7.14)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
|
Although strictly in Shiga prefecture, this temple is part of the sacred mountain site of Hiei-san, on the Eastern outskirts of Kyoto. In this simple but peaceful scene, the temple building, with its bronze and stone lanterns, stands among the giant cryptomeria trees.
Background history: Wikipedia article
In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E10600 (10-600 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$25.51 €18.80 £14.88)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.24 €9.02 £7.14)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
|
This bridge is a landmark of western Japan, with both red maples and cherry trees planted alongside, for gorgeous pictures in all seasons. We are told that the name Kintaikyô - or "Brocade sash bridge" - is derived from a resemblance to a kimono sash. This is pretty unconvincing, until you realise that the river under the bridge is Nishikigawa: this Nishiki is the Japanese reading for "brocade", written with the same Chinese character as the Kin in Kintai.
The bridge consists of five wooden arches: at the time it was originally built (1673), wheeled transport was almost unknown in Japan, so presumably it was not worthwhile going to the extra effort of providing a level roadway. It seems unlikely that this design would have been used in Europe at that time.
Matsumoto-san's excellent photographs of the bridge (in Japanese)
Hokusai's painting (Interesting to see his perception of the stone pillars: compare my essay on walls. And for more than you ever needed to know about bridges, read J. E. Gordon.)
Also 300 pieces: Kintaikyô cherry blossom
In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: Y101072 (10-1072 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$25.51 €18.80 £14.88)
Shipping from ¥1000 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$10.20 €7.52 £5.95)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
|
This is an old pilgrimage route through the mountains. Looking at the paving snaking its way upwards, we can almost feel the cool greenness of the forest. A sombre picture, this will not be a very easy puzzle, but it is full of textural variation.
In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: Y101069 (10-1069 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$25.51 €18.80 £14.88)
Shipping from ¥1000 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$10.20 €7.52 £5.95)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
|
This very famous garden dates back to the 17th century; beyond the bridge we see the distinctive arch-based stone lantern that is its symbol. The neatly trimmed azaleas are a characteristic of this garden style.
This puzzle also available in 300 pieces
In stock
A Road puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: RS13178 (RS-13-178 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$25.51 €18.80 £14.88)
Shipping from ¥1000 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$10.20 €7.52 £5.95)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
|
The gradual spread of the Tokyo-Yokohama conurbation out into Tokyo Bay has created some dramatic modern cityscapes. This is the Minato Mirai 21 development area of Yokohama, here seen to glamorous effect.
 This is a glow-in-the-dark puzzle.
In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: Y101132 (10-1132 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$30.61 €22.56 £17.86)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.24 €9.02 £7.14)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
|
|
Though officially known as Saihôji, this temple is better known as Kokedera, the "Moss Temple", because of its expansive gardens entirely carpeted in moss (120 species, we're told). The temple was originally founded in the eighth century, and the garden restored in 1339.
This puzzle is cut to make pieces harder to find. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E11306 (11-306 on box)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$30.61 €22.56 £17.86)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.24 €9.02 £7.14)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
|
© Epoch
A strikingly different wide-angle view of one of the most famous temples in Kyoto. Compared with the usual "full-frontal" view, as in the design on a 10-yen coin, here we get a good sense of the setting and surrounding garden. This building is the Amida Hall, or more familiarly the Phoenix Hall, after the birds perched on top of the central roof.
Mark Schumacher has an interesting page on the phoenix, including closeups of the birds on roof of this temple.
In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 954 pieces; 102 x 34 cm (40" x 13")
Code: E09502 (09-502 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$25.51 €18.80 £14.88)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$12.24 €9.02 £7.14)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
|
© Apollo-sha
The lights of Kobe port, now happily recovered from the 1995 earthquake. A natural harbour and important port from ancient times, when Japan opened its doors to the world in 1868, Kobe became one of the principal points of foreign influence, together with Yokohama and Nagasaki, and it retains this cosmopolitan feel to this day.
In stock
An Apollo puzzle: 950 pieces; 102 x 34 cm (40" x 13")
Code: P0903 (9-03 on box)
Retail price ¥2800 (approx. US$28.57 €21.05 £16.67)
Shipping from ¥1000 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$10.20 €7.52 £5.95)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
|
Other 1000-piece scenic puzzles
From the search page:
all scenic puzzles with (approximately) 1000 pieces
Deleted puzzles
For reference: you can view all the 1000-piece scenic puzzles that are out of print in the Attic.
