Update!

(15 August) The database should now be fixed, so there are no more stray funny characters... but there may still be glitches. I just discovered that all of the Peanuts puzzles had disappeared, because "artist=peanuts" was not matching "Peanuts"; so there is more to do in sorting out case-insensitive matching.

Database problem!

Apologies! A recent database upgrade has left lots of Japanese text corrupted, and also some variant characters, such as the e-acute in "Pokémon," not showing correctly. I am working to correct this but may take some days...

申し訳ありません 現在、データーベースの問題でほとんどのパズルの詳細などの日本語が文字化けになっています。修復するまで何日かかかるかも知れません。ご了承ください。

Jigsaw puzzles from Japan

"None of the above"

The puzzles on this page are difficult or different, but defy classification
Torture (hardest of all!) - Just silly fun - Unclassified - More puzzler's puzzles

Torture

You could always write a message on the completed puzzle, break it up, and send it to a friend...?

2000 pieces

White torture

White torture

The ultimate horror: 2000 pieces, every one white. The box does say "For masochists only"... you have been warned.

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

* Blank puzzle, with no pattern at all!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 2000 pieces; 720 x 490 mm (28" x 19")
Code: BS62517 (S62-517 on package)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$21.74 €19.61 £16.39)

All about ordering (please read first)

1000 pieces

White torture

White torture

Every piece of this puzzle is plain white. Not for the faint of heart!

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

* This puzzle has micro pieces

* Blank puzzle, with no pattern at all!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10")
Code: BM71847 (M71-847 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$13.04 €11.76 £9.84)

All about ordering (please read first)

Black torture

Black torture

Every piece of this puzzle is plain black. Not for the faint of heart!

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

* This puzzle has micro pieces

* Blank puzzle, with no pattern at all!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10")
Code: BM71848 (M71-848 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$13.04 €11.76 £9.84)

All about ordering (please read first)

300 pieces

White torture

White torture

Every piece of this puzzle is plain white. Not for the faint of heart!

* Blank puzzle, with no pattern at all!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 300 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10")
Code: B93123 (93-123 on package)
Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$11.59 €10.46 £8.74)

All about ordering (please read first)

White torture

White torture

Just 300 little pieces, all white!

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

* Blank puzzle, with no pattern at all!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 300 pieces; 257 x 182 mm (10" x 7")
Code: BS73609 (S73-609 on package)
Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$11.59 €10.46 £8.74)

All about ordering (please read first)

Blue torture

Blue torture

Just 300 little pieces, all blue!

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

* Blank puzzle, with no pattern at all!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 300 pieces; 257 x 182 mm (10" x 7")
Code: BS73611 (S73-611 on package)
Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$11.59 €10.46 £8.74)

All about ordering (please read first)

Red torture

Red torture

Just 300 little pieces, all red!

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

* Blank puzzle, with no pattern at all!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 300 pieces; 257 x 182 mm (10" x 7")
Code: BS73612 (S73-612 on package)
Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$11.59 €10.46 £8.74)

All about ordering (please read first)

108 pieces

White torture

White torture

Every piece of this puzzle is plain white. Not for the faint of heart!

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

* This puzzle has micro pieces

* Blank puzzle, with no pattern at all!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 108 pieces; 100 x 147 mm (4" x 6")
Code: BM108140 (M108-140 on package)
Retail price ¥500 (approx. US$3.62 €3.27 £2.73)

All about ordering (please read first)

Black torture

Black torture

Every piece of this puzzle is plain black. Not for the faint of heart!

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

* This puzzle has micro pieces

* Blank puzzle, with no pattern at all!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 108 pieces; 100 x 147 mm (4" x 6")
Code: BM108141 (M108-141 on package)
Retail price ¥500 (approx. US$3.62 €3.27 £2.73)

All about ordering (please read first)

Fine gold torture

Fine gold torture

A kilogram of fine gold, at least according to the box!

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

* This puzzle is postcard size, with micro pieces

* Blank puzzle, with no pattern at all!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 108 pieces; 100 x 147 mm (4" x 6")
Code: BM108204 (M108-204 on package)
Retail price ¥800 (approx. US$5.80 €5.23 £4.37)

All about ordering (please read first)

Just silly fun

1053 pieces

Traditional umbrellas
© Epoch

Traditional umbrellas

A puzzler's puzzle! These are traditional waxed paper umbrellas, of slightly varying shades of red...

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1053 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10")
Code: E79024 (79-024 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$13.04 €11.76 £9.84)

All about ordering (please read first)

Dahlia
© Epoch

Dahlia

This is a beautiful photograph of a dahlia - no tricks at all. But it will be an interesting challenge!

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1053 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10")
Code: E71749 (71-749 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$13.04 €11.76 £9.84)

All about ordering (please read first)

Bouquet reflection
© Epoch

Bouquet reflection

The bouquet has been reflected into eight-fold symmetry, so if you start with the corners you will get four identical sections to join together progessively. There is lots of variation, though, so in relative terms this should not be too difficult...

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1053 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10")
Code: E71750 (71-750 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$13.04 €11.76 £9.84)

All about ordering (please read first)

1000 pieces

Jigsawmania 1000
© Beverly

Jigsomania 1000

The ultimate horror: you start with a pile of puzzle pieces, and when you have completed it, you get a photo of a pile of puzzle pieces!!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 720 x 490 mm (28" x 19")
Code: B61432 (61-432 on package)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$21.74 €19.61 £16.39)

All about ordering (please read first)

Zebra stripomania
© Beverly

Zebra stripomania

No description needed: another crazy challenge from Beverly.

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10")
Code: BM81589 (M81-589 on package)
Retail price ¥2200 (approx. US$15.94 €14.38 £12.02)

All about ordering (please read first)

Jigsomania 1000 micro
© Beverly

Jigsomania 1000 micro

The ultimate horror: you start with a pile of puzzle pieces, and when you have completed it, you get a photo of a pile of puzzle pieces!!

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10")
Code: BM81573 (M81-573 on package)
Retail price ¥2200 (approx. US$15.94 €14.38 £12.02)

All about ordering (please read first)

300 pieces

Jigsomania 300
© Beverly

Jigsomania 300

The ultimate horror: you start with a pile of puzzle pieces, and when you have completed it, you get a photo of a pile of puzzle pieces!!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 300 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10")
Code: B83095 (83-095 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$13.04 €11.76 £9.84)

All about ordering (please read first)

No smoking
© Beverly

No smoking

Surely no explanation needed!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 300 pieces; 260 x 380 mm (10" x 15")
Code: B83050 (83-050 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$13.04 €11.76 £9.84)

All about ordering (please read first)

Rising sun

Rising sun

The flag of Japan. Simple, but an entertaining challenge!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 300 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10")
Code: B33085 (33-085 on package)
Retail price ¥1500 (approx. US$10.87 €9.80 £8.20)

All about ordering (please read first)

108 pieces

Eye test!

Eye test!

The puzzle carries a stern Legal Warning: "This should not be used for real eye tests"... but it looks fun to put together. There is even a cut-out "mini-occluder" on the side of the box (the spoon thingy to put in front of one eye, to test the other).

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 108 pieces; 100 x 147 mm (4" x 6")
Code: BM108171 (M108-171 on package)
Retail price ¥700 (approx. US$5.07 €4.58 £3.83)

All about ordering (please read first)

Rising sun

Rising sun

The flag of Japan. Simple, but an entertaining challenge!

* This puzzle has TINY pieces!

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 108 pieces; 147 x 100 mm (6" x 4")
Code: BM108174 (M108-174 on package)
Retail price ¥700 (approx. US$5.07 €4.58 £3.83)

All about ordering (please read first)

Unclassified

1000 pieces

Sushi collection
© Beverly

Sushi collection

Sixty-six varieties of sushi, plus the essential accompaniments of wasabi (Japanese horseradish) and ginger. Each delicacy has the photo accompanied by the Japanese name, its English equivalent, and romanization of the Japanese.

Detail
In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 720 x 490 mm (28" x 19")
Code: B61416 (61-416 on package)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$21.74 €19.61 £16.39)

All about ordering (please read first)

Great wave off Float Islands
© Nintendo / HAL Laboratory

Great wave off Float Islands

Perhaps a classic scene from Kirby's Dream Land (the game known as Hoshi-no-Kaabi in Japanese), in which Mount Fuji has been replaced by... ?

In stock
An Ensky (Artbox) puzzle: 1000 pieces; 735 x 510 mm (29" x 20")
Code: N10T156 (1000T-156 on package)
Retail price ¥3200 (approx. US$23.19 €20.92 £17.49)

All about ordering (please read first)

Hina-matsuri
© Kotobuki Kogei

Hina-matsuri

A formal, but rather jolly portrayal of the seven-level doll display traditionally provided for the Girl's Festival, on the third day of the third month. The Emperor and Empress on the top level sit in front of a gold screen, and the steps below them range from court ladies, and musicians, down to displays of domestic objects, in the elaborate lacquered style of the Heian period.

In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 500 x 750 mm (20" x 30")
Code: A10664 (1000-664 on package)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$21.74 €19.61 £16.39)

All about ordering (please read first)

Milky Peko-chan
© Fujiya

Peko-chan in kimono

Peko-chan is the mascot of the Fujiya chain of confectionery stores and restaurants, "Milky" being their iconic brand of milk candy.

In stock
A Cuties puzzle: 1000 pieces; 500 x 750 mm (20" x 30")
Code: C10060 (1000-060 on package)
Retail price ¥3600 (approx. US$26.09 €23.53 £19.67)

All about ordering (please read first)

Historical Japanese coins
© Appleone

Historical Japanese coins

An amazing collection of coins dating from 1668 to 1917 - shown on the puzzle itself at approximately actual size.

The back of the box has a key (in Japanese) to each coin, including the dates it was issued, and details of the composition and weight...

Translation guide
品位Composition (parts of gold, silver, etc)
Gold
Silver
Copper/bronze
量目Weight (in grams)
New
Old
Yen (currency unit from 1870)
Sen (1/100th of a yen)
不明Unknown

* This puzzle is numbered on the back so it is possible to work out where a piece goes.

In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: A10477 (1000-477 on package)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$21.74 €19.61 £16.39)

All about ordering (please read first)

Milky Peko-chan
© Fujiya

Milky Peko-chan

Peko-chan is the mascot of the Fujiya chain of confectionery stores and restaurants, "Milky" being their iconic brand of milk candy.

In stock
A Cuties puzzle: 1000 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: C10058 (1000-058 on package)
Retail price ¥3600 (approx. US$26.09 €23.53 £19.67)

All about ordering (please read first)

Map of old Edo
© Beverly
Position map

Map of old Edo

A map of Edo dating from 1843, long before it was renamed as the "Eastern capital" (Tokyo). It has the lines of the modern Tokyo Metro rail network superimposed, and also the outlines of the huge areas of reclaimed land in what was once Tokyo Bay; it's interesting that the principal lines we see in the original map are waterways, the canal network carrying all goods around the city, ensuring that the Imperial Palace was supplied with really fresh fish, amongst other things. If you can read Japanese at all you will also notice that the map has been rotated; the custom in that time was for East to be at the top.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 490 x 720 mm (19" x 28")
Code: B61422 (61-422 on package)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$21.74 €19.61 £16.39)

All about ordering (please read first)

500 pieces

Cat life in Kyoto
© Mitsuaki Iwago
Position map

Cat life in Kyoto (Iwago)

The stone statue is a maneki neko, or "beckoning cat", traditionally seen as beckoning good fortune. And the cat seems to have the same idea!

Mitsuaki Iwagō (born 1950) is a very well known Japanese wildlife photographer, whose photoessay on the Serengeti, "Natural Order on the African Plain" became an international best-seller. But he is also known for cute photographs of more domesticated animals...

(His family name is often written without the long-vowel mark, as Iwago.)

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 500 pieces; 530 x 380 mm (21" x 15")
Code: E06083 (06-083 on package)
Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$14.49 €13.07 £10.93)

All about ordering (please read first)

300 pieces

Milky Peko-chan
© Fujiya

Peko-chan in kimono

Peko-chan is the mascot of the Fujiya chain of confectionery stores and restaurants, "Milky" being their iconic brand of milk candy.

In stock
A Cuties puzzle: 300 pieces; 260 x 380 mm (10" x 15")
Code: C03122 (300-122 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$13.04 €11.76 £9.84)

All about ordering (please read first)

Milky Peko-chan
© Fujiya

Milky Peko-chan

Peko-chan is the mascot of the Fujiya chain of confectionery stores and restaurants, "Milky" being their iconic brand of milk candy.

In stock
A Cuties puzzle: 300 pieces; 260 x 380 mm (10" x 15")
Code: C03118 (300-118 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$13.04 €11.76 £9.84)

All about ordering (please read first)

Milky Peko-chan in Chinese dress
© Fujiya

Milky Peko-chan in Chinese dress

Peko-chan is the mascot of the Fujiya chain of confectionery stores and restaurants; 牛奶糖 (lit. "milk-sugar") is the Chinese name for their iconic "Milky" confectionery.

In stock
A Cuties puzzle: 300 pieces; 260 x 380 mm (10" x 15")
Code: C03128 (300-128 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$13.04 €11.76 £9.84)

All about ordering (please read first)

Pekola-chan
© Fujiya

Pekola-chan

Pekola-chan is the rival of Peko, and another mascot of the Fujiya chain of confectionery stores and restaurants, "Milky" being their iconic brand of milk candy.

In stock
A Cuties puzzle: 300 pieces; 260 x 380 mm (10" x 15")
Code: C03123 (300-123 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$13.04 €11.76 £9.84)

All about ordering (please read first)

Peko-chan happy and sad
© Fujiya

Peko-chan happy and sad

Peko-chan is the mascot of the Fujiya chain of confectionery stores and restaurants, "Milky" being their iconic brand of milk candy.

In stock
A Cuties puzzle: 300 pieces; 260 x 380 mm (10" x 15")
Code: C03171 (300-171 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$13.04 €11.76 £9.84)

All about ordering (please read first)

Sushi collection
© Beverly

Sushi collection

Sixty-six varieties of sushi, plus the essential accompaniments of wasabi (Japanese horseradish) and ginger. Each delicacy has the photo accompanied by the Japanese name, its English equivalent, and romanization of the Japanese.

Detail
In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 300 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10")
Code: B300Z018 (300-018 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$13.04 €11.76 £9.84)

All about ordering (please read first)

More puzzler's puzzles

A personal selection of puzzles that seem to have been designed to be interesting (or difficult, if you prefer)...

3000 pieces

Uyuni salt flats, Bolivia
© Kazuyoshi Nomachi

Uyuni salt flats, Bolivia

Three thousand pieces, and all of them are sky! The famous Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia are covered in water during the wet season, and provide this amazing mirror effect.

Detail

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 3000 pieces; 1020 x 730 mm (40" x 29")
Code: E21514 (21-514 on package)
Retail price ¥4200 (approx. US$30.43 €27.45 £22.95)

All about ordering (please read first)

2016 pieces

Sagano bamboo grove lit up
© Epoch
Position map

Sagano bamboo grove lit up

A night view of the bamboo grove at Sagano in Kyoto. With roughly 1400 pieces of bamboo, and the rest path and brushwood fence, this is a real puzzler's puzzle!

* This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E23546 (23-546 on package)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$18.12 €16.34 £13.66)

All about ordering (please read first)

2000 pieces

Uyuni salt flats
© Kazuyoshi Nomachi

Uyuni salt flats

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 TINY pieces!

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 2000 pieces; 530 x 380 mm (21" x 15")
Code: E54011 (54-011 on package)
Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$14.49 €13.07 £10.93)

All about ordering (please read first)

1000 pieces

Uyuni  by starlight
© Epoch

Uyuni by starlight

The famous Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia again, this time at night. The surface layer of water provides this amazing mirror effect, so practically every piece is dark purple with either stars or reflections of stars!

* This is a glow-in-the-dark puzzle.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E12508 (12-508 on package)
Retail price ¥3200 (approx. US$23.19 €20.92 £17.49)

All about ordering (please read first)

The milky way (Uyuni)
© Kagaya

The milky way (Uyuni) (Kagaya)

Kagaya has used the famous Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia as an unusual setting for a personal view of the Milky Way.

Born in Saitama (just north of Tokyo) in 1968, Kagaya spent his childhood in wonderment of the stars in the sky, and never stopped painting them. He has had a successful career as an illustrator for astronomical books and magazines, and many of his works have been turned into jigsaw puzzles, among other products. Since 1996, he has worked exclusively in the digital medium, using a Macintosh. Perhaps that is why he does not appear to sign his pictures.

He goes by his family name; his given name appears to be Yutaka, but in English you will also find him called Joh Kagaya (Jô is the Chinese reading of his name).

* This is a glow-in-the-dark puzzle.

In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 1000 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: Y101294 (10-1294 on package)
Retail price ¥3900 (approx. US$28.26 €25.49 £21.31)

All about ordering (please read first)

Nemophila fields, Ibaraki
© Amanaimages
Position map

Nemophila fields, Ibaraki

Once the site of a wartime aerodrome, this hill is now in a seaside park, covered with these pretty blue flowers. It means that most of the puzzle pieces will be blue, of one shade or another...

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E10763 (10-763 on package)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$18.12 €16.34 £13.66)

All about ordering (please read first)