The Attic

© Yamamoto Kosaku

Distant Fuji (Yamamoto Kosaku)

A spectacular distant view of Mount Fuji towering above the neighbouring mountains. Sunset pictures are usually quite challenging, but this one is the ultimate!

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued October 2018
A Yanoman puzzle: 5146 pieces; 1470 x 1080 mm (58" x 43")
Code: Y5118 (51-18 on package)
Retail price ¥15000

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© Epoch

Mt. Fuji from Oshino

Mt. Fuji from the east, this time from a beautifully kept Japanese garden in Oshino.

As Mount Olympus was the home of the Greek gods, so Mt. Fuji (3776 metres above sea level) has its place as the symbol of Japan. Although most popular tourist pictures show the view from the south, with the bullet train passing below Mount Fuji, the best views are from the north and east sides.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued May 2021
An Epoch puzzle: 3000 pieces; 1020 x 730 mm (40" x 29")
Code: E21501 (21-501 on package)
Retail price ¥4200

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

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.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued February 2021
An Epoch puzzle: 3000 pieces; 1020 x 730 mm (40" x 29")
Code: E21507 (21-507 on package)
Retail price ¥4200

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© Iwamoto Keisuke

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.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 3000 pieces; 1020 x 730 mm (40" x 29")
Code: E21509 (21-509 on package)
Retail price ¥4200

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© Epoch

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.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 3000 pieces; 1020 x 730 mm (40" x 29")
Code: E21510 (21-510 on package)
Retail price ¥4200

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Itsukushima shrine

The classic view of the Itsukushima shrine, looking out into the bay at the great torii. This Shinto ceremonial gateway was completed in 1875, and is unusual in being sited in the tidal part of the bay.

This is famous as one of the traditional "Three sights of Japan" - and since 1996 has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 3000 pieces; 1020 x 730 mm (40" x 29")
Code: E21511 (21-511 on package)
Retail price ¥4200

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Red Fuji

A spectacular aerial view of the rare but genuine meteorological phenomenon whereby at dawn or sunset the whole side of the mountain appears to glow red.

As Mount Olympus was the home of the Greek gods, so Mt. Fuji (3776 metres above sea level) has its place as the symbol of Japan. Although most popular tourist pictures show the view from the south, with the bullet train passing below the mountain, the best views are from the north and east sides.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued September 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 3000 pieces; 1020 x 730 mm (40" x 29")
Code: E21513 (21-513 on package)
Retail price ¥4200

More puzzles like this one

© Yanoman

Mt. Fuji from Lake Motosu

On a still, clear day, Lake Motosu lies like a sheet of glass beneath Fuji's snow cone.

As Mount Olympus was the home of the Greek gods, so Mt. Fuji (3776 metres above sea level) has its place as the symbol of Japan. Although most popular tourist pictures show the view from the south, with the bullet train passing below Mount Fuji, the best views are from the north and east sides.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
A Yanoman puzzle: 3000 pieces; 1070 x 770 mm (42" x 30")
Code: Y3020 (30-20 on package)
Retail price ¥6500

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© Epoch

Oigawa railway in autumn

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued November 2020
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E75026 (75-026 on package)
Retail price ¥3500

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© Epoch

Fuji snowscape

At an altitude of over 900 metres, the village of Oshino benefits from the fresh water which wells in abundance from the slopes of Mount Fuji. This winter view shows the mountain to best advantage, and will be a severe challenge: apart from the mass of blue sky pieces, almost everything is white. But there is an interesting range of textures to help you.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued December 2017
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E75027 (75-027 on package)
Retail price ¥3500

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© Epoch

Ama-no-hashidate

One of the traditional "Three sights of Japan" (along with Matsushima and Miyajima, all coastal sites), Ama-no-hashidate is a natural sand spit formation that almost closes the mouth of the Miyazu bay, covered by a ribbon of old pine trees. The cable car climbs the hills at the north end to give passengers a better view — the location is deep in the bay, so although on the northern coast, the Sea of Japan is out to the left in the picture.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued May 2017
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E75028 (75-028 on package)
Retail price ¥3500

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© Tanaka Hideaki

Tō-ji temple, Kyoto

A dramatic dawn shot along the moat of Tō-ji (literally "East Temple"), with its famous pagoda, the tallest wooden tower in Japan. The 2542 pieces of this puzzle will make a tough challenge, with the subdued range of tones in the picture.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E75030 (75-030 on package)
Retail price ¥3500

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© Minoruta Ken'ichi

Hirosaki park cherry blossom

The moat of Hirosaki castle is a famous spot for cherry blossom. This puzzle includes something like 1000 pieces of cherry blossom, both overhead and reflected, making it an interesting challenge.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E75501 (75-501 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Oirase rapids

The Oirase river flows out of Lake Towada east to the sea, and the steep descent provides a renowmed beauty spot. Here mountain azaleas provide splashes of colour amid the green.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued September 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E75502 (75-502 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Fuji reflected

A perfect reflection of Mount Fuji against a dramatic sky. This view is from the north-west, across Shōjiko, the smallest of the "five lakes" that lie around the base of the mountain.

As Mount Olympus was the home of the Greek gods, so Mt. Fuji (3776 metres above sea level) has its place as the symbol of Japan. Although most popular tourist pictures show the view from the south, with the bullet train passing below Mount Fuji, the best views are from the north and east sides.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued May 2017
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E75503 (75-503 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Furano flower fields

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued December 2019
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E75506 (75-506 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Akira Shibata

Kinkakuji

Perhaps the most famous of Kyoto's temples, this is the "Gold pavilion." It was originally built in the 1300s, and given to the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397, but was destroyed in an arson attack in 1950. Rebuilt in 1955, the gold leaf covering was only completely restored in 1987. Like the "Silver pavilion," this is only a nickname, and the formal temple name is Rokuonji.

What does the name mean?

gold

pavilion

temple

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued January 2017
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E75507 (75-507 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Kōmyō-ji maples

The main entrance to this temple is a famous spot for autumn colours. ("Fall colors" if you like: Japan is blessed with many of the red maples that remind me more of scenes of New England than of the older England I come from.) The first temple on this site is said to have been founded in 1198, but the current building dates from around 1750.

What does the name mean?

light

bright

temple

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued 2016
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E75509 (75-509 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Tokyo cherry blossom

A mass of cherry trees line the banks of Sumidagawa, the great river through Tokyo that was once a transport artery, but is now more a leisure attraction.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued January 2017
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E75510 (75-510 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Kappa bridge, Japan Alps

This wooden suspension bridge is a landmark of the Kamikochi resort area in the Japan alps, and its span of some 30 metres carries hikers across Azusagawa river. Beyond can be seen some of Japan's most majestic mountains.

The bridge is named for the mythical water-creature, the kappa, which is said to live in deep clear waters such as these.

Wikipedia article on Kappa

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued December 2017
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E75511 (75-511 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Itsukushima sunset

A dramatic view of the great Torii of Itsukushima at sunset. This puzzle is quite a challenge: 2542 pieces "mostly purple"...

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued September 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E76019 (76-019 on package)
Retail price ¥3900

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Mt. Fuji from Shizuoka

Fuji seen from the coast near Shizuoka, some 50 km away.

As Mount Olympus was the home of the Greek gods, so Mt. Fuji (3776 metres above sea level) has its place as the symbol of Japan. Although most popular tourist pictures show the view from the south, with the bullet train passing below Mount Fuji, many of the best views are from the north and east sides.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued May 2020
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E76020 (76-020 on package)
Retail price ¥3900

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Hakodate night view

Hakodate is an important port on Hokkaido as the gateway to the main island of Honshu. Positioned on an isthmus, the city is squeezed into neat outlines, between the sea and Mount Hakodate from which this photo is taken. This is a real "puzzler's puzzle": 2542 very small pieces, sea, sky, mountain, and lots of cityscape details, for a real challenge.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued July 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E76602 (76-602 on package)
Retail price ¥3400

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© Epoch

Tokyo Station lit up

Tokyo station has been recently renovated, and presents an imposing red-brick frontage, but over the last decade or so it has also gained a backdrop of huge office buildings. This makes a challenging and rather different puzzle.

Wikipedia article

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued January 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E76605 (76-605 on package)
Retail price ¥3400

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© Epoch

Shirakawa-go houses

A fine summer day in this historic village in the Japanese alps. These gasshōzukuri houses, named after a supposed resemblance between the roof and hands at prayer, were built to house extended families of up to forty people, and are now part of a World Heritage site.

Looking across a ripening paddy field, a row of foxgloves in the foreground adds an extra accent to this big challenge puzzle...

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued November 2016
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E76607 (76-607 on package)
Retail price ¥3400

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Aizu-wakamatsu Castle

Although this castle boasts a history stretching back more than 600 years, it was damaged in the Battle of Aizu — hostilities during the switch from the rule of the Shoguns to the Meiji restoration — and the main tower was destroyed by 1874. It was rebuilt (in reinforced concrete) in 1965, and finally in 2011 the black roof tiles were returned to the authentic red tiles from the time of its destruction. The castle grounds contain around a thousand cherry trees, and hydrangeas, as we see here.

The castle is in the modern city of Aizu-wakamatsu, after which it is usually named in English, but it is also known as Tsurugajô, or "Crane Castle".

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued November 2020
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E76608 (76-608 on package)
Retail price ¥3400

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Tokyo twilight

The lights of one of the growing number of islands created in Tokyo Bay, with the new landmark Rainbow Bridge connecting to old Tokyo in the distance.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued May 2017
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E76616 (76-616 on package)
Retail price ¥3400

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Great wall of china

The Great Wall in sombre light — but it highlights the jagged mountain skyline, reminding us of the enormous challenge of construction.

The Chinese name (also used in Japanese, of course) is "10,000-li fortification": it actually extends for a total of 12,700 li, or around 6,350 km.

(From the Epoch "World Heritage" series)

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23019 (23-019 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Itsukushima Shrine

The classic view of Itsukushima shrine, looking out into the bay at the great torii. This Shinto ceremonial gateway was completed in 1875, and is unusual in being sited in the tidal part of the bay. It is also famous as one of the traditional "Three sights of Japan."

See also: Cherry blossom time (1000 pieces) and Ama-no-hashidate (1000 pieces), one of the other "Three sights"

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23031 (23-031 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Asukaen

Nara, former capital

2010 sees the celebration of the 1300th anniversary of the Japanese capital moving to Heijō-kyō, or modern Nara. This is Yakushi-ji, one of the historical temples of Nara — some of the buildings are modern reconstructions, but because of the tradition regular rebuilding and repair undergone by wooden temple buildings of Japan, and with the decline in the importance of Nara after the capital moved to Kyoto, many historical details are lost in the mists of time.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23046 (23-046 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Yamanashi Katsuhiro

Kasuga Grand Shrine, Nara

The impressive entrance to one of the historical treasures makes a particularly nice picture for a puzzle: the varying textures and repeating patterns provide fascination, particularly the row of bronze lanterns. As is the tradition in Japan, wooden buildings are rebuilt regularly, preserving their beauty...

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23047 (23-047 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Thai stupa

This stupa (the inverted 'bell' building) is in Sukhothai, capital of the ancient kingdom of northern Thailand. Appropriately for a sacred Buddhist edifice, lotus blossoms crowd the foreground.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23048 (23-048 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Maki Mizuno

Matchless beauty

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued March 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23053 (23-053 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

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© Epoch

Kinkakuji in winter

The "Gold pavilion," perhaps the most famous of Kyoto's temples, in the depths of winter. The placid waters and still grey trees are beautifully set off by the brilliant gold leaf of the building. This will not be an easy puzzle!

Kinkakuji was originally built in the 1300s, and given to the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397, but was destroyed in an arson attack in 1950. Rebuilt in 1955, the gold leaf covering was only completely restored in 1987. Like the "Silver pavilion," this is only a nickname, and the formal temple name is Rokuonji.

What does the name mean?

gold

pavilion

temple

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23058 (23-058 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Seiganto temple and Nachi falls

Near the southern tip of the Kii peninsula below Kyoto, this pagoda, just part of the temple complex, enjoys a commanding view of the impressive Nachi falls. Although the falls are actually across a valley, a suitable viewpoint brings them into the same picture.

This is a very tasteful photograph, and the touches of mist will probably make the large area of forest and cliffs slightly easier rather than harder.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued July 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23062 (23-062 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Kinkakuji

Perhaps the most famous of Kyoto's temples, this is the "Gold pavilion." It was originally built in the 1300s, and given to the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397, but was destroyed in an arson attack in 1950. Rebuilt in 1955, the gold leaf covering was only completely restored in 1987. Like the "Silver pavilion," this is only a nickname, and the formal temple name is Rokuonji.

What does the name mean?

gold

pavilion

temple

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued December 2017
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23501 (23-501 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Cherry avenue

This avenue runs along the bank of the Gongendô river, in the middle of the Kanto Plain, and is a famous location for cherry-blossom viewing.

This will not be an easy puzzle - more than half of the area of the picture is occupied by the mass of pink blooms.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23504 (23-504 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Gyeongbokgung, Seoul

This pavilion, known as Hyangwonjeong, stands in the grounds of the old imperial palace site of Gyeongbokgung, in the Korean capital of Seoul. The architecture is quite distinctive, yet has many characteristics in common with that of Japan, and of course the lily pond is a universal feature.

Lots of detail in the Wikipedia article

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23512 (23-512 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Ninotaki falls in autumn

This is "Waterfall number two" in the Tachimata gorge in Akita, northern Japan. Although not spectacular for its height, and at a mere 20 m the smallest of the chain (the others are Ichi-no-taki and San-no-taki), it provides an attractive setting for the changing seasons, and particularly for the autumn foliage of beeches and maples.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23517 (23-517 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Philosopher's walk, Kyoto

This famous path in Kyoto is named after the philosopher Kitaro Nishida who would meditate while strolling along it. The waterway is lined by cherry trees, which provide not only a display of blossom in the spring but also a rich pattern of reds and yellows in the autumn.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23518 (23-518 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Hirosaki castle moat

The moat of Hirosaki Castle, in northern Japan, overhung with its famous cherry trees, the first of which are said to have been brought from Kyoto in 1715.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23529 (23-529 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Oirase rapids

The Oirase river flows out of Lake Towada east to the sea, and the steep descent provides a renowmed beauty spot. Here mountain azaleas provide splashes of colour amid the green.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23532 (23-532 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Kurashiki

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

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23536 (23-536 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Ginzan hot spring resort

This spa is well-known in Japan since featuring in the TV drama Oshin, but probably more famous worldwide as the inspiration for the bath-house location in Miyazaki's anime feature "Spirited away".

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23540 (23-540 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Minowa Masashi

Kenrokuen in autumn

The first brilliant red maples fringe the lake in this very famous garden, which dates back to the 17th century; in the foreground we see the distinctive arch-based stone lantern that is its symbol.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23541 (23-541 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Kataoka Iwao

Kômyôji, Kyoto

The main entrance to this temple is a famous spot for autumn colours. ("Fall colors" if you like: Japan is blessed with many of the red maples that remind me more of scenes of New England than of the older England I come from.) The first temple on this site is said to have been founded in 1198, but the current building dates from around 1750.

What does the name mean?

light

bright

temple

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23542 (23-542 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Imamura Yutaka

Kappa bridge, Japan Alps

This wooden suspension bridge is a landmark of the Kamikochi resort area in the Japan alps, and its span of some 30 metres carries hikers across Azusagawa river. Beyond can be seen some of Japan's most majestic mountains.

The bridge is named for the mythical water-creature, the kappa, which is said to live in deep clear waters such as these.

Wikipedia article on Kappa

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued February 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23547 (23-547 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Kaminarimon gate in Asakusa

This huge gateway stands in Asakusa, at the heart of old Tokyo. Although usually known as Kaminarimon, or "Lightning gate" as written on the giant lantern (about 4 m tall, sponsored by Matsushita Electric), it is officially called Furaijin-mon, after the gods of wind (fu) and thunder (rai), who sit on either side. Like all other buildings in the area, this was reconstructed after being completely destroyed in the Second World War.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23548 (23-548 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

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."

Himeji Castle website (includes English version)

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23549 (23-549 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Philosopher's walk in spring

This famous path in Kyoto is named after the philosopher Kitaro Nishida who would meditate while strolling along it. The cherry trees lining the waterway provide a display surely enough to raise the springtime spirits of any philosopher...

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23550 (23-550 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi

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

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued March 2020
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23551 (23-551 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Matsumoto castle

Matsumoto, high in the Japan Alps, has one of the best-preserved castles in Japan — and this wide-angle view gives a good look at the details of its construction.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23552 (23-552 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

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.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued August 2019
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23553 (23-553 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Sakurajima volcano

Sakurajima (lit. "Cherry Island") was indeed an island until 1914, when an enormous lava eruption joined it back to the mainland. Now it sits benign but raw, facing the city of Kagoshima across a narrowing of the bay.

This puzzle is full of interesting texture contrasts: the concrete sprawl of a typical Japanese cityscape, the subtropical greenery, and the craggy mountain.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23554 (23-554 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Autumn in Shirakawa-go

Late autumn, and ripening persimmons against a varied background of reds, yellows, and evergreens. These gasshōzukuri houses, named after a supposed resemblance between the roof and hands at prayer, were built to house extended families of up to forty people.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23557 (23-557 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Sanzen-in autumn

Like many other of the famous temples of Kyoto, Sanzen-in is not an extrovery showpiece, rather a contemplative haven in beautiful natural surroundings.

The surrounding trees break up the view of the temple building, and the result is a puzzle full of textural variation. An excellent choice for 2016 small pieces...

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23558 (23-558 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Mimurotoji, Kyoto

This temple, in the city of Uji just south of Kyoto, is one of the thirty-three forming the Kansai Kannon pilgrimage route. It is extremely ancient, as the first temple on this site was erected some 1200 years ago, and is also known as the "Temple of flowers", for its display of azaleas and hydrangeas, in addition to the lotus pond featured here.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23559 (23-559 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Itsukushima in spring

The great torii, or Shinto ceremonial gateway of Itsukushima shrine seen from an unusual perspective, looking out from Miyajima to the mainland. Completed in 1875, this torii is somewhat unusually sited in the tidal part of the bay, and is famous as one of the traditional "Three sights of Japan."

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23563 (23-563 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Magome post town in spring

Magome is the forty-third station on the old Nakasendo route (counting from Tokyo), and together with the forty-second (Tsumago) has been restored as a historical monument. It is easy to imagine how daunting this slope would have looked to travellers of centuries past, being the start of many uphill days.

The richly-varied textures will make this an enjoyable, and never tedious puzzle.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23564 (23-564 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Vacation paradise

An idyllic lagoon scene — no location given, but the single outrigger in the foreground rather suggests somewhere in the Pacific...

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued December 2020
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23565 (23-565 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Private resort

No location given for this tropical view, but the island across the sea has clearly been the site of some extremely energetic volanic activity in the past...

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23566 (23-566 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Nagano flower road

Flowers line a hiking trail in the mountains of central Japan — the approach to Ontake-san, the 3067-metre high mountain seen in the distance. Long revered as one of the sacred high peaks, this volcano long regarded as extinct suddenly erupted in 1979.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23567 (23-567 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Amanaimages

Ryuzu falls

These falls (near Nikko, in Tochigi) descend 60 metres in a gently inclined torrent extending for 200 metres. The name is derived from the appearance of the huge rock separating the two streams at the lower end of the falls, which is said to resemble the head of a dragon.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23568 (23-568 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Okayama castle gardens

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.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23569 (23-569 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Ryuzu falls

These falls (near Nikko, in Tochigi) descend 60 metres in a gently inclined torrent extending for 200 metres. The name is derived from the appearance of the huge rock separating the two streams at the lower end of the falls, which is said to resemble the head of a dragon.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23571 (23-571 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Kiyomizudera night maples

This very famous Kyoto temple is trestled out from the side of the hill overlooking Kyoto. The original temple is said to have been founded more than 1200 years ago, but most of the present structure dates from the 1600s.

This night view, with its rich dark textures, makes a puzzle that will present quite a challenge.

What does the name mean?

pure

water

temple

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23572 (23-572 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle sits atop an exceedingly impressive castle wall, which will be great fun to do as a puzzle. Restoration of the main tower was finally completed in 1997 — although made of concrete, it is a faithful reproduction of the original.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23573 (23-573 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Ama-no-hashidate

Azaleas make a bright foreground to this view along Ama-no-hashidate. This is one of the natural wonders of Japan, a natural sand spit formation that almost closes the mouth of Miyazu bay, and is covered by a ribbon of old pine trees.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued September 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23574 (23-574 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Masato Tsubaki

Aizu-wakamatsu Castle

Although this castle boasts a history stretching back more than 600 years, it was damaged in the Battle of Aizu — hostilities during the switch from the rule of the Shoguns to the Meiji restoration — and the main tower was destroyed by 1874. It was rebuilt (in reinforced concrete) in 1965, and finally in 2011 the black roof tiles were returned to the authentic red tiles from the time of its destruction. The castle grounds contain around a thousand cherry trees, one of which frames the view here.

The castle is in the modern city of Aizu-wakamatsu, after which it is usually named in English, but it is also known as Tsurugajô, or "Crane Castle".

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued July 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23575 (23-575 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Matsushima cherry blossom

One of the traditional "Three sights of Japan", the picturesque Matsushima bay contains innumerable small islands. A pale moon hangs over just a few of them, seen through the massed pink blossom...

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23576 (23-576 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Okumino

To the varied textures of this traditional town vignette, two bangasa, Japanese oiled paper umbrellas, add brilliant splashes of colour.

Okumino is part of the old kuni division of Mino, and lies in the foothills to the west of the Japan Alps — this view is in the town of Gujo-Hachiman.

Photo: Yamanashi Katsuhiro

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued July 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23581 (23-581 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Noriyuki Katayama

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.

As Mount Olympus was the home of the Greek gods, so Mt. Fuji (3776 metres above sea level) has its place as the symbol of Japan. Although most popular tourist pictures show the view from the south, with the bullet train passing below Mount Fuji, the best views are from the north and east sides.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23582 (23-582 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Yokohama Bay Bridge

A dramatic view of one of the links in the bay part of the expressway circling the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolis. This is a cable-stayed suspension bridge, a type which became more common with the development of more advanced computer modelling technology around the end of the twentieth century.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued September 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23585 (23-585 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Yutaka Tsuchiya

Tulips in Tokyo

The mass of bright flower beds give a European feel to this park in a suburb of Tokyo.

The site is interesting: originally the Tachikawa airfield, it became a US air base in September 1945, then finally in 1983 it was converted to a park, commemorating fifty years of the reign of Emperor Showa (Hirohito).

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued April 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23586 (23-586 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Ueda castle gardens

Gorgeous autumn foliage in this park, which surrounds the remains of Ueda castle.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued February 2020
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23595 (23-595 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Koichiro Kitaoku

Tōshōgu, Nikko

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.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued December 2017
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E24101 (24-101 on package)
Retail price ¥3500

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© Epoch

Dawn over Himeji Castle

A very dramatic view of Himeji Castle at dawn. By tradition it is supposed to resemble a white heron, but here it looks altogether more foreboding. Himeji castle is famous as the best-preserved example of Japanese castle building, whose historical origins are said to date back to the building of a fort in 1333.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E24601 (24-601 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

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© Epoch

Nabegataki falls

This waterfall high in the mountains of Kyushu has been made more famous by repeated appearance in TV commercials. At 10 m high and 20 m wide it is impressive enough, but its other claim to fame is that you can walk through the large cave behind the curtain of water. This gives it the alternative name of Urami-no-taki, literally "seen behind falls".

Photos including the reverse view

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E24602 (24-602 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

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© Epoch

Kenrokuen

This very famous garden dates back to the 17th century; beyond the foreground of irises we see the distinctive arch-based stone lantern that is its symbol, and a visiting grey heron.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued May 2017
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E24605 (24-605 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

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© Epoch

Sunset at Bitchu-Kokubunji

A sunset view of the five-storied pagoda at Bitchu-Kokubunji. Only completed in 1847, to replace the previous seven-storied pagoda lost in a fire, this is the most recent example of this classic design.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E24607 (24-607 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© David Ball

Taj Mahal

Perhaps the most beautiful building in the world, caught at one of the best moments, a clear dawn.

The symmetry of the picture will make this two-sided puzzle an extra challenge, since most pieces will have approximately the same appearance on both sides.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

This puzzle has the same image printed on both sides.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E27107 (27-107 on package)
Retail price ¥3900

More puzzles like this one

© JTB photo

Tsumago in early summer

Amazingly well-preserved buildings line this street in Tsumago, a staging point where the old Nakasendo road begins to climb over the Japan Alps.

On the right, a pair of traditional umbrellas help to advertise the famous Matsushiroya inn. Here's how to read the signs in the picture; the juku means "a place to stay", referring to the town's status as a staging point.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Combination of 2016 piece + 247 small-piece surprise puzzle

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E27504 (27-504 on package)
Retail price ¥3500

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© Yanoman

Unganji

Autumnal foliage surrounds the entrance to this temple in the wilds of northern Tochigi. It is famous as the first temple visited by Bashô (the "Wordsworth of Japan") on his travels around northern Japan.

Another of Bashô's temples: Yamadera

Permanently unavailable
A Yanoman puzzle: 2014 pieces; 1070 x 770 mm (42" x 30")
Code: Y20164 (20-164 on package)
Retail price ¥4200

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© Yanoman

Sagano teahouse

This traditional teahouse is in Sagano, an old suburb of Kyoto. We look down through the glorious red maples, and glimpse guests enjoying refreshment.

Permanently unavailable
A Yanoman puzzle: 2014 pieces; 1070 x 770 mm (42" x 30")
Code: Y20179 (20-179 on package)
Retail price ¥4200

More puzzles like this one

© Yanoman

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."

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued December 2017
A Yanoman puzzle: 2014 pieces; 620 x 450 mm (24" x 18")
Code: Y2202 (22-02 on package)
Retail price ¥2300

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© Yanoman

Furano flower fields

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued November 2017
A Yanoman puzzle: 2014 pieces; 620 x 450 mm (24" x 18")
Code: Y2218 (22-18 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Beverly Enterprises

Cherry blossom time, Hirosaki Castle

Hirosaki Castle, in northern Japan, framed by its famous cherry trees, the first of which are said to have been brought from Kyoto in 1715. There's also a glimpse of the castle foundation wall, in the usual "diagonal" building style.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
A Beverly puzzle: 2000 pieces; 720 x 490 mm (28" x 19")
Code: BS72504 (S72-504 on package)
Retail price ¥2600

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© Beverly Enterprises

Genkyuen gardens

These gardens were created in 1677, at the base of the hill on which stands Hikone Castle, built earlier in the 17th century. The central lake includes four islands and nine bridges.

Here we see the castle towering above, and the lakeside pavilions, reflected in the tranquil water...

Wikipedia article: Hikone Castle

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued September 2018
A Beverly puzzle: 2000 pieces; 720 x 490 mm (28" x 19")
Code: BS72521 (S72-521 on package)
Retail price ¥2600

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© Beverly

Irises in Shirakawa

Irises bloom by the edge of the little brook that flows past this country cottage in the traditional style of the Japan Alps, in the famous preserved village of Shirakawa-go.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued September 2018
A Beverly puzzle: 2000 pieces; 720 x 490 mm (28" x 19")
Code: BS72524 (S72-524 on package)
Retail price ¥2600

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© Epoch

Shirakawa-go - early summer

An idyllic scene by a country cottage in the traditional style of the Japan Alps (in the famous preserved village of Shirakawa-go). The yellow flowers in the stream in the foreground are kakitsubata, a delicate but very common variety of iris.

Randy Johnson's travel notes on Shirakawa-go

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2000 pieces; 1020 x 730 mm (40" x 29")
Code: E19007 (19-007 on package)
Retail price ¥4200

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

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."

(This is a reissue of puzzle code E20050.)

Himeji Castle website (includes English version)
More castle puzzles

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 2000 pieces; 1020 x 730 mm (40" x 29")
Code: E19016 (19-016 on package)
Retail price ¥4200

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© JTB photo

Great barrier reef

This is "Heart Island", in the Great Barrier Reef off north-east Australia. And this is a classic "puzzler's puzzle", selected to be a tough challenge.

Combination of 1500 + 400 small-piece puzzles

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued October 2017
An Epoch puzzle: 1900 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E17105 (17-105 on package)
Retail price ¥3900

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Itsukushima sunset

A dramatic view of the great Torii of Itsukushima at sunset. This puzzle is quite a challenge: there is a lot of purple, and a lot of shadow.

Combination of 1500 + 400 small-piece puzzles

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1900 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E17106 (17-106 on package)
Retail price ¥3900

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Shiraito falls

Shiraito-no-taki, or "White-thread falls" is just west of Mt. Fuji. With a drop of 25 m, and a total width of 200 m, this is only the most famous of many waterfalls of this name.

Combination of 1500 + 400 small-piece puzzles

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1900 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E17601 (17-601 on package)
Retail price ¥3500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Floating pavillion, Nara

The floating pavillion in Nara Park was reconstructed in the early 1990s, when the original from 1916 had deteriorated. Octagonal in form, it has a shingled roof of hinoki bark. Reflected in Sagi-ike, or the "pond of the heron" it is always beautiful, but particularly in the summer when the connecting bridge and the banks of the pond are decorated with candles.

Combination of 1500 + 400 small-piece puzzles

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1900 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E17603 (17-603 on package)
Retail price ¥3500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Floating pavillion, Nara

The floating pavillion in Nara Park was reconstructed in the early 1990s, when the original from 1916 had deteriorated. Octagonal in form, it has a shingled roof of hinoki bark. Reflected in Sagi-ike, or the "pond of the heron" it is always beautiful, but particularly in the summer when the connecting bridge and the banks of the pond are decorated with candles.

Reduced price for damaged box

Combination of 1500 + 400 small-piece puzzles

Permanently unavailable
Box slightly squashed
An Epoch puzzle: 1900 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E17603X (17-603 on package)
Retail price ¥3500

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© Epoch

Shirakawa fire drill

Shirakawa-go, with its traditional buildings housing extended families of up to forty people. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and because of the ever-present risk of fire, from time to time the pumps are all tested together, resulting in this rather splendid water display.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 1020 x 340 mm (40" x 13")
Code: E18015 (18-015 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

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© Epoch

Byōdōin, Kyoto

A head-on view of one of the most famous temples in Kyoto: the reflection makes for an interesting puzzle. The building, which appears in the design on a 10-yen coin in this view, is the Amida Hall, more familiarly known as 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.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 1020 x 340 mm (40" x 13")
Code: E18025 (18-025 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

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© Epoch

Mount Fuji panorama

In this panorama, Mt Fuji is seen from high on the hills to the north, across Kawaguchi lake.

As Mount Olympus was the home of the Greek gods, so Mt. Fuji (3776 metres above sea level) has its place as the symbol of Japan. Although most popular tourist pictures show the view from the south, with the bullet train passing below Mount Fuji, the best views are from the north and east sides.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 1020 x 340 mm (40" x 13")
Code: E18501 (18-501 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Tashiroike

High in the Japan Alps, the highest chain of mountains running north-south across the main island, the banks of this winding lake are fringed with wild azaleas.

More about wild azaleas in Sano Gallery

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 1020 x 340 mm (40" x 13")
Code: E18502 (18-502 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Kurashiki reflections

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

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 1020 x 340 mm (40" x 13")
Code: E18505 (18-505 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Hakodate nightscape

Hakodate is an important port on Hokkaido as the gateway to the main island of Honshu. Positioned on an isthmus, the city is squeezed into neat outlines, between the sea and Mount Hakodate from which this photo is taken. It will make for a challenging and different puzzle.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 1020 x 340 mm (40" x 13")
Code: E18506 (18-506 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© JTB photo

Himeji cherry blossom

A panoramic display of cherry blossom front Himeji Castle, famous as the best-preserved example of Japanese castle building, whose origins are said to date back to the building of a fort in 1333.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 1020 x 340 mm (40" x 13")
Code: E18507 (18-507 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Philosopher's walk in spring

This famous path in Kyoto is named after the philosopher Kitaro Nishida who would meditate while strolling along it. The cherry trees lining the waterway provide a display surely enough to raise the springtime spirits of any philosopher...

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1518 pieces; 1020 x 340 mm (40" x 13")
Code: E18508 (18-508 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Oigawa railway

The 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.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E14112 (14-112 on package)
Retail price ¥3500

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Fuji reflected

A perfect reflection of Mount Fuji against a dramatic sky. This view is from the north-west, across Shōjiko, the smallest of the "five lakes" that lie around the base of the mountain.

As Mount Olympus was the home of the Greek gods, so Mt. Fuji (3776 metres above sea level) has its place as the symbol of Japan. Although most popular tourist pictures show the view from the south, with the bullet train passing below Mount Fuji, the best views are from the north and east sides.

This puzzle is one of the series of Epoch "grading" puzzles, and at two-kyu it is meant to be fairly difficult.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E14503 (14-503 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

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...

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E14507 (14-507 on package)
Retail price ¥3000

More puzzles like this one

© Epoch

Fuji from Oshino

Fuji towers above the village of Oshino, with its preserved old cottages and placid millpond.

As Mount Olympus was the home of the Greek gods, so Mt. Fuji (3776 metres above sea level) has its place as the symbol of Japan. Although most popular tourist pictures show the view from the south, with the bullet train passing below the mountain, the best views are from the north and east sides.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

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Discontinued September 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E15501 (15-501 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Epoch

Ginkgo avenue in Tokyo

Sunbeams filter through the bright yellow leaves of the ginkgo, a popular tree for city planting, and often to be seen in Tokyo.

See my "Plant Watcher's" page on the ginkgo.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

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An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E15515 (15-515 on package)
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© Epoch

Kinkakuji in winter

The "Gold pavilion," perhaps the most famous of Kyoto's temples, in the depths of winter. The placid waters and still grey trees are beautifully set off by the brilliant gold leaf of the building. This will not be an easy puzzle!

Kinkakuji was originally built in the 1300s, and given to the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397, but was destroyed in an arson attack in 1950. Rebuilt in 1955, the gold leaf covering was only completely restored in 1987. Like the "Silver pavilion," this is only a nickname, and the formal temple name is Rokuonji.

What does the name mean?

gold

pavilion

temple

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

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An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E15516 (15-516 on package)
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© Epoch

Rape flowers and cherry blossom (Ehime)

With their mellifluous Japanese name, na-no-hana, these yellow flowers have earned a place in popular songs as an emblem of the countryside in spring. They set off the pink cherry blossoms perfectly in this view near Imabari, a city facing the inland sea.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

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An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
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© Epoch

Kajuji water-lily pond

This iris-fringed lotus pond lies in the grounds of Kajuji, one of the temples of Kyoto founded more than 1000 years ago.

Wikipedia article: Kajū-ji

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

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An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
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© Epoch

Springtime under steam

A steam locomotive captured among the cherry blossoms, on the Mōka line in Tochigi. Passing through a traditional cotton-growing area, this line has never been electrified, and on weekends and holidays the usual diesel railcars are replaced by this steam train.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

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An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E15531 (15-531 on package)
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© Epoch

Tropical beach in Japan

Japan is not usually thought of as tropical, but the chain of islands extending from Kyushu to Okinawa includes many coral islands, an unexploited paradise destination...

We are not given a precise location, just "Kagoshima Prefecture", but this must be somewhere in the Amami island group.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

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An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
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© Fukushima Umon

Oirase rapids

The Oirase river flows out of Lake Towada east to the sea, and the steep descent provides a renowned beauty spot. In autumn the trees put on a spectacular display of reds, yellows and browns.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

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An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
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© Ogawa Hidekazu

Plum park in autumn

This park, with a history stretching back over 100 years, is famed for the earliest flowering times, and latest autumn foliage in Japan. It is located in Atami, a resort on the Pacific coast.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

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An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E15541 (15-541 on package)
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© Epoch / Aflo / Minowa Masashi

Omihachiman navigation channel

Originally opened up as a route for carrying thatching reeds between Lake Biwa (the largest lake in Japan) and the small lake, Nishi-no-ko, this canal is now a favourite tourist destination, particularly in cherry-blossom season.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

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An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
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© Yamamoto Keisuke

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.

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© Epoch

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.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

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An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E15547 (15-547 on package)
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© Studio Sato/Orion/Animaimages

Mt. Fuji aerial view

Aerial view from the north.

As Mount Olympus was the home of the Greek gods, so Mt. Fuji (3776 metres above sea level) has its place as the symbol of Japan. Although most popular tourist pictures show the view from the south, with the bullet train passing below Mount Fuji, the best views are from the north and east sides.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E15548 (15-548 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Kazuyoshi Nomachi

Uyuni salt flats, Bolivia

A puzzle where all the pieces are sky! The famous Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia are covered in water during the wet season, and provide this amazing mirror effect.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
Discontinued May 2018
An Epoch puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E15550 (15-550 on package)
Retail price ¥2500

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© Morita Toshitaka

Thatched cottage (Hiroshima) (Morita)

An idyllic scene in late spring: this thatched cottage, with its accompanying kura (storehouse) is reflected in a newly flooded paddy field, the scene completed by a cherry in full flower and a splendid set of koinobori (carp streamers for boys' day).

The house is preserved in Bihoku Park, in Shobara (Hiroshima Prefecture).

Born 1946 in Osaka, Morita set out as a freelance scenic photographer in 1975. He has had numerous collections of his work published in book form, as well as calendars and other media, and continues a punishing schedule, spending 200 days a year tramping the Japanese archipelago for material. (Morita is his family name.)

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

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Code: P15111 (15-111 on package)
Retail price ¥2600

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© Morita Toshitaka

Mist on the cliffs (Kitayama) (Morita)

Some of Japan's wildest and most beautiful scenery lies in the Rikuchu Coast National Park... Gnarled pines cling in gravity-defying poses on the rugged cliff, and the sun breaks through the morning mist to complete the impression of grandeur.

Born 1946 in Osaka, Morita set out as a freelance scenic photographer in 1975. He has had numerous collections of his work published in book form, as well as calendars and other media, and continues a punishing schedule, spending 200 days a year tramping the Japanese archipelago for material. (Morita is his family name.)

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Apollo puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: P15113 (15-113 on package)
Retail price ¥2600

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© Morita Toshitaka

Sagano bamboo grove (Kyoto) (Morita)

A puzzler's puzzle! A path between neatly trimmed brushwood fences wends through this bamboo grove in Sagano, Kyoto. The puzzle is full of variations in tone, but still the mass of densely crowded bamboo trunks will take a lot of patience.

Born 1946 in Osaka, Morita set out as a freelance scenic photographer in 1975. He has had numerous collections of his work published in book form, as well as calendars and other media, and continues a punishing schedule, spending 200 days a year tramping the Japanese archipelago for material. (Morita is his family name.)

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Apollo puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: P15114 (15-114 on package)
Retail price ¥2600

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© Morita Toshitaka

Silver birch avenue in Hokkaido (Morita)

The landscape of northern island of Hokkaido is very different from the rest of Japan—the climate is distinctly cooler, and even though the latitude is that of northern Italy, one is reminded of Scandinavia. This elegant avenue of silver birches is near the city of Kitami, close to the Sea of Okhotsk.

Born 1946 in Osaka, Morita set out as a freelance scenic photographer in 1975. He has had numerous collections of his work published in book form, as well as calendars and other media, and continues a punishing schedule, spending 200 days a year tramping the Japanese archipelago for material. (Morita is his family name.)

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

Permanently unavailable
An Apollo puzzle: 1500 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: P15117 (15-117 on package)
Retail price ¥2600

More puzzles like this one