Jigsaw puzzles from Japan
On this page: Art puzzles - Photo puzzles
![]() © Matsumoto Tadashi
1000: Paddy field reflections (Matsumoto)The local train passes through the rice fields, not long after leaving Aizu Wakamatsu... This single-track, non-electrified line, joining East to West across Japan's mountain backbone was only completed in 1971 from Aizu Wakamatsu (Fukushima) to Koide (Niigata). It has escaped "rationalisation", because heavy winter snowfall closes the only road alternative. Born in Kanagawa in 1973, Matsumoto Tadashi took an arts degree from Tohoku University, before pursuing a career in illustration. He specialises in the railway scene, and his work has appeared both in specialist train magazines and general travel literature. He combines attention to engineering detail with a warm evocation of rural charm. In stockA Yanoman puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20") Code: Y101145 (10-1145 on box) Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$40.54 €30.93 £25.64) Shipping from ¥1000 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.51 €10.31 £8.55) Buy this puzzle Add to basket All about ordering (please read first) |
![]() © Matsumoto Tadashi
500: Hometown tints (Matsumoto)A rare sight anywhere: a station with a thatched roof. This station serves Yunokami Onsen, a resort evocative of the Edo period before the modern age, and famed for autumn colours. This is on the Aizu Railway, running north-south through the mountains along the old Nikko Road. Born in Kanagawa in 1973, Matsumoto Tadashi took an arts degree from Tohoku University, before pursuing a career in illustration. He specialises in the railway scene, and his work has appeared both in specialist train magazines and general travel literature. He combines attention to engineering detail with a warm evocation of rural charm. In stockA Yanoman puzzle: 500 pieces; 53 x 38 cm (21" x 15") Code: Y05914 (05-914 on box) Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$27.03 €20.62 £17.09) Shipping from ¥700 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$9.46 €7.22 £5.98) Buy this puzzle Add to basket All about ordering (please read first) |
![]() © Matsumoto Tadashi
500: Winter scene (Matsumoto)A striking composition, reminiscent of a classic woodblock print... near Yanaizu on the Tadami line The artist tells how he took the train to Yanaizu, left the station, and found this footbridge providing a splash of colour against the winter monotone: it was then only a question of waiting for a train to pass. This single-track, non-electrified line, joining East to West across Japan's mountain backbone was only completed in 1971 from Aizu Wakamatsu (Fukushima) to Koide (Niigata). It has escaped "rationalisation", because heavy winter snowfall closes the only road alternative. Born in Kanagawa in 1973, Matsumoto Tadashi took an arts degree from Tohoku University, before pursuing a career in illustration. He specialises in the railway scene, and his work has appeared both in specialist train magazines and general travel literature. He combines attention to engineering detail with a warm evocation of rural charm. In stockA Yanoman puzzle: 500 pieces; 38 x 53 cm (15" x 21") Code: Y05915 (05-915 on box) Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$27.03 €20.62 £17.09) Shipping from ¥700 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$9.46 €7.22 £5.98) Buy this puzzle Add to basket All about ordering (please read first) |
![]() © Matsumoto Tadashi
300: Following wind (Matsumoto)A peaceful summer scene, as the train passes through the gentle landscape around Lake Inawashiro. This is the West Ban'etsu line running east-west across northern Honshu, and principally serving the historic town of Aizu Wakamatsu. Born in Kanagawa in 1973, Matsumoto Tadashi took an arts degree from Tohoku University, before pursuing a career in illustration. He specialises in the railway scene, and his work has appeared both in specialist train magazines and general travel literature. He combines attention to engineering detail with a warm evocation of rural charm. In stockA Yanoman puzzle: 300 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10") Code: Y03700 (03-700 on box) Retail price ¥1400 (approx. US$18.92 €14.43 £11.97) Shipping from ¥400 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.41 €4.12 £3.42) Buy this puzzle Add to basket All about ordering (please read first) |
![]() © Epoch
1500: Oigawa railwayThe Oigawa line is a private railway running from the Pacific coast mainline up into the foothills of the Southern Alps, and passing through some spectacular scenery. ![]()
In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20") Code: E14112 (14-112 on box) Retail price ¥3500 (approx. US$47.30 €36.08 £29.91) 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) |
![]() © Epoch
1000: Shinkansen below Mount FujiThe iconic shot of modern Japan: the "bullet train" passing below Mount Fuji. This is the N700, the version introduced in 2007, cutting the journey time between Tokyo and Osaka to under two-and-a-half hours. ![]() In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20") Code: E11336 (11-336 on box) Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$40.54 €30.93 £25.64) 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) |
![]() © Yanoman
1000: Cherry blossom tunnelSteam trains still run on the Oigawa line, a private railway running from the Pacific coast mainline up into the foothills of the Southern Alps. This one is called Sakura ('Cherry'), appropriately enough, since the line is famous for the cherry trees planted on either side to form a "tunnel". In stockA Yanoman puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20") Code: Y101129 (10-1129 on box) Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$33.78 €25.77 £21.37) 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) |
![]() © Epoch
1000: Norokko sightseeing trainThis 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! ![]() In stockAn 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) Buy this puzzle Add to basket All about ordering (please read first) |
![]() © Tajima Tsuneo
1000: Memories of steamA historical shot of the C62 class locomotive number 47 pulling the Yuzuru express on the Joban line on 2nd August, 1966. This is the east coast main line north from Tokyo, in the brief interval when only the section north of Iwaki had not yet been electrified. This is a lightly colorised version of a photograph taken by Tajima when still a schooboy. Original photograph on photographer's website In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20") Code: E11188 (11-188 on box) Normally ¥3000 - special offer 50% off: ¥1500 (approx. US$20.27 €15.46 £12.82) 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) |
![]() © RGG
1000: Mount Fuji with the "blue train"Below Mount Fuji we see the "Blue train", the long-distance sleeper service connecting Tokyo to Kyushu, with a history stretching back to 1929. The service was finally withdrawn in 2009, with emotional farewells from crowds of fans. In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20") Code: E11349 (11-349 on box) Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$40.54 €30.93 £25.64) 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) |
![]() © Masaaki Horimachi
1000: Sunflowers on the Furano lineThis 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 stockAn 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) |
![]() © Yanoman
500: Shinkansen below Mount FujiThe iconic shot of modern Japan: the "bullet train" passing below Mount Fuji. This is the N700, the version introduced in 2007, cutting the journey time between Tokyo and Osaka to under two-and-a-half hours.
In stockA Yanoman puzzle: 500 pieces; 22 x 17 cm (9" x 7") Code: Y4109 (41-09 on box) Retail price ¥1000 (approx. US$13.51 €10.31 £8.55) Shipping from ¥400 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.41 €4.12 £3.42) Buy this puzzle Add to basket All about ordering (please read first) |
![]() © Ebihara Mikio
450: Old-time steam journey (Yamaguchi)This steam locomotive is number one of the C57 type, which has acquired the nickname of Kifujin, or "Lady", runs a nostalgic service on the Yamaguchi line across western Honshu.
In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 450 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10") Code: E08035 (08-035 on box) Normally ¥1400 - special offer 50% off: ¥700 (approx. US$9.46 €7.22 £5.98) 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) |
![]() © RGG 420: Nostalgic blue trainThe "Blue train", the long-distance sleeper service which connected Tokyo to Kyushu, from 1929 to 2009, when it was finally eliminated by competition from the shinkansen and the air alternative. This photo is somewhere in Kyushu.
In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 420 pieces; 52 x 18 cm (20" x 7") Code: E52101 (52-101 on box) Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$24.32 €18.56 £15.38) Shipping from ¥600 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$8.11 €6.19 £5.13) Buy this puzzle Add to basket All about ordering (please read first) |
![]() © Epoch
300: Enoshima railwayThis historical line, which opened as an electric railway in 1902, joins the cities of Kamakura and Fujisawa, providing local access to the tiny resort island of Enoshima and the great Kamakura statue of Buddha (actually three stations from Kamakura). One reason for its preservation may be a number of TV dramas featuring the line. In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 300 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10") Code: E26230 (26-230 on box) Retail price ¥1400 (approx. US$18.92 €14.43 £11.97) 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) |
![]() © JTB photo
300: Isumi RailwayA local line snaking across the Boso peninsular south-east of Tokyo, the Isumi railway is fringed for more than half its length by bright yellow rape blossoms, tended for by local people. The line was rescued from oblivion in 1988, and is run as a joint private-public operation to serve local communities. In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 300 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10") Code: E26231 (26-231 on box) Retail price ¥1400 (approx. US$18.92 €14.43 £11.97) 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) |
![]() © Yanoman
204: Train to happinessTwo otherwise insignificant stations in Hokkaido became famous in a 1974 song "From Ai-no-kuni to Kofuku". The picture shows Kofuku, which means "Happiness"; the other station Ai-no-kuni means "country of love"...
In stockA Yanoman puzzle: 204 pieces; 15 x 10 cm (6" x 4") Code: Y98273 (98-273 on box) Normally ¥500 - special offer 60% off: ¥200 (approx. US$2.70 €2.06 £1.71) Shipping from ¥400 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.41 €4.12 £3.42) Buy this puzzle Add to basket All about ordering (please read first) |