Jigsaw puzzles from Japan
Welcome to the Imaginatorium Shop, now in our twenty-fourth year!
From our base in Japan (see the map!), we send jigsaw puzzles anywhere in the world. Most of the hundreds of puzzles we have in stock feature oriental themes, but the high quality of Japanese-made puzzles (exquisite printing, really solid card stock, and clean cutting) also makes "reverse imports" highly desirable — puzzles of Peanuts, Disney, and lots of other Western characters popular in Japan. In general, if a puzzle is available in Japan, we can get it for you within a week or so - see the special orders page.
- Contents page - full shop guide, including navigation links at the top of each page
- Top ten - best-selling puzzles
- Last chance! - only one left of each of these puzzles...
- Artists - a complete list
- Special orders - when you can't find the puzzle you are looking for
- Missing pieces - help when you have the puzzle but can't find a piece!
(Puzzle of the month suspended)
Latest additions
Yoshioka cat fun!
Scenic
New "Alice" puzzle from Shu
Kimono beauties from Matsuo Hiromi
Latest Fujishiro fantasy...
Demon slayer
Traditional art
Latest Sanrio characters...
Chit-chat
—October—
Problems
USA suspended... Just about every country has a lower limit on the collection of customs tariffs and other taxes for postal packages. This is obviously reasonable, because the cost of processing tiny amounts makes it uneconomic. The US has traditionally had a high cutoff level by international standards, the so-called de minimis $800 figure. This made the US an easy market for us, because there are no customers facing unexpected charges. Anyway, this is not the place for politics, but to describe the behaviour of the current incumbent of the White House as "erratic" would surely be the most restrained statement of fact. In among the current chaos came a recent proclamation that this $800 allowance would end, "as of next Friday" (or similar). Unfortunately, in the real world for the US Postal Service to organise a change like this is likely to take months, at least. The real-world result is paralysis: the Post Office is now only accepting packages for the US up to $100 value, and declared as a person-to-person gift. So we have had to suspend all shipments to the US indefinitely.
And Canada... The other day, a new message from our Post Office: Canada is on strike. So no shipments to Canada either, at least for the time being.
Puzzlements
And on the positive side... This is an old puzzle I found (from more than twenty years ago). It has a cork finish, which is different, but tends to result in very subdued colours. Anyway, Mickey and Minnie embrace at the station; but where is the station? Well, the trains are very recognisable British Rail diesel units, with the double-arrow logo on the side. So a terminal station on a line not yet electrified – Paddington, perhaps? Certainly looks as though it might have been designed by Brunel...
But wait, what is this "L'edicola"?? An Italian newspaper stand? Hmm, and the destination board: today's quiz. Where are the destinations shown: Genova, Monaco, Roma, and Venezia?
They are Italian placenames...
See the answers
Read more of these blog entries
- Best-selling puzzles: Top ten.
- Browse the complete list of artists.
- How to display puzzles on the wall without needing to buy a frame: Murals!
- Despite the FAQ, we can supply frames by special order: more information.
- We also sell glue! Yanoman puzzle glue (100 g), 180 yen
(Standard PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) puzzle glue - almost all puzzles include glue, but when you need extra, one of these bottles should be enough for two 1000-piece puzzles. Note that this will not work for the "Crystal" translucent puzzles made of plastic, which need no glue.) - Manufacturer details: Apollo - Appleone - Artbox/Ensky - Beverly - Cuties - Epoch - Road - Tenyo - Yanoman - more historical info
- Any other problems or just questions - please ask!
About ordering
The details under each puzzle show the price, with approximate equivalents in US dollars, euros, and pounds sterling. The new checkout (at imaginatorium.com) should be self-explanatory, but please read the FAQ for more details. If you have any questions or problems, just use the forms provided to ask, and we'll get back to you. Once we receive confirmation of a payment, we aim to despatch puzzles by the next working day.
The total for all PayPal payments is in yen, but you will be charged in your 'home currency', and you will be able to check the final amount before confirming payment.
You can pay by major credit card, eCheck in the US,
and bank transfer in many countries.
Finally...
Imaginatorium Shop started in 2002 as a part of my website at imaginatorium.org; it's still there - the Imaginatorium
