Jigsaw puzzles from Japan
Mountain roads
Feature page for April 2007
The picture on the right is part of a drawing made by Engelbert Kaempfer, explorer and physician, of the Dutch delegation of which he was a member on its way to meet the Shogun in Edo (modern Tokyo). This journey, of around 1000 km, was made partly by ship across the Inland Sea, but the remainder overland - and with not a wheel in sight. The coastline of Japan is almost unremittingly hostile, and therefore the main communications network consisted of often tortuous routes through the mountains, leaving legs as the only plausible means of locomotion. For many this meant walking, but Kaempfer himself rode a horse, and the most privileged simply sat in a palanquin and were carried.
Of course this network has long fallen into disuse, replaced first by winding roads, now by almost straight tunnels, but all shifting away from the original to more accessible lines. Thus many traces remain, and some of the routes have become ways of pilgrimage, providing a well-preserved taste of times gone by.
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.
 In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E23564 (23-564 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$29.07 €23.81 £19.38)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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Amazingly well-preserved buildings line this street in Tsumago, a staging point where the old Nakasendo road begins to climb over the Japan Alps.
Morning glory features in the foreground, while on the mountain side disappearing into mist, sugi (cryptomeria) trees tower over typically frothy bamboos.
On the right is 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 TINY pieces! In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: BS71810 (S71-810 on box)
Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$18.60 €15.24 £12.40)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
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The old tea-house in this beautiful photograph would have been a welcome sight greeting a traveller reaching the southern end of this historic road: an old pilgrimage route through the mountains, now preserved as a World Heritage site.
In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 72 x 49 cm (28" x 19")
Code: B71313 (71-313 on box)
Retail price ¥2600 (approx. US$30.23 €24.76 £20.16)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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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.
In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 500 pieces; 49 x 36 cm (19" x 14")
Code: B75257 (75-257 on box)
Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$18.60 €15.24 £12.40)
Shipping from ¥800 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$9.30 €7.62 £6.20)
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Well, no, this is the beautifully preserved Kintai bridge in western Japan, dating from the same era as Kaempfer's travels. But the gracefully looping roadway was plainly designed for the non-wheeled caravans making their way over the mountain routes.
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This bridge is a landmark of western Japan, with both red maples and cherry trees planted alongside, for gorgeous pictures in all seasons. We are told that the name Kintaikyô - or "Brocade sash bridge" - is derived from a resemblance to a kimono sash. This is pretty unconvincing, until you realise that the river under the bridge is Nishikigawa: this Nishiki is the Japanese reading for "brocade", written with the same Chinese character as the Kin in Kintai.
The bridge consists of five wooden arches: at the time it was originally built (1673), wheeled transport was almost unknown in Japan, so presumably it was not worthwhile going to the extra effort of providing a level roadway. It seems unlikely that this design would have been used in Europe at that time.
Matsumoto-san's excellent photographs of the bridge (in Japanese)
Hokusai's painting (Interesting to see his perception of the stone pillars: compare my essay on walls. And for more than you ever needed to know about bridges, read J. E. Gordon.)
This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size. In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 2016 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E23535 (23-535 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$29.07 €23.81 £19.38)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
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An image of surreal colours — the pink cherry blossom blending with the pink-purple of dusk as the floodlights being to light the pillars. This bridge is a landmark of western Japan, with both red maples and cherry trees planted alongside, for gorgeous pictures in all seasons. We are told that the name Kintaikyô - or "Brocade sash bridge" - is derived from a resemblance to a kimono sash. This is pretty unconvincing, until you realise that the river under the bridge is Nishikigawa: this Nishiki is the Japanese reading for "brocade", written with the same Chinese character as the Kin in Kintai.
The bridge consists of five wooden arches: at the time it was originally built (1673), wheeled transport was almost unknown in Japan, so presumably it was not worthwhile going to the extra effort of providing a level roadway. It seems unlikely that this design would have been used in Europe at that time.
In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E10721 (10-721 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$29.07 €23.81 £19.38)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
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This bridge is a landmark of western Japan, with both red maples and cherry trees planted alongside, for gorgeous pictures in all seasons. We are told that the name Kintaikyô - or "Brocade sash bridge" - is derived from a resemblance to a kimono sash. This is pretty unconvincing, until you realise that the river under the bridge is Nishikigawa: this Nishiki is the Japanese reading for "brocade", written with the same Chinese character as the Kin in Kintai.
The bridge consists of five wooden arches: at the time it was originally built (1673), wheeled transport was almost unknown in Japan, so presumably it was not worthwhile going to the extra effort of providing a level roadway. It seems unlikely that this design would have been used in Europe at that time.
Matsumoto-san's excellent photographs of the bridge (in Japanese)
Hokusai's painting (Interesting to see his perception of the stone pillars: compare my essay on walls. And for more than you ever needed to know about bridges, read J. E. Gordon.)
In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: E10714 (10-714 on box)
Retail price ¥2500 (approx. US$29.07 €23.81 £19.38)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
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This bridge is a landmark of western Japan, with both red maples and cherry trees planted alongside, for gorgeous pictures in all seasons. We are told that the name Kintaikyô - or "Brocade sash bridge" - is derived from a resemblance to a kimono sash. This is pretty unconvincing, until you realise that the river under the bridge is Nishikigawa: this Nishiki is the Japanese reading for "brocade", written with the same Chinese character as the Kin in Kintai.
The bridge consists of five wooden arches: at the time it was originally built (1673), wheeled transport was almost unknown in Japan, so presumably it was not worthwhile going to the extra effort of providing a level roadway. It seems unlikely that this design would have been used in Europe at that time.
Matsumoto-san's excellent photographs of the bridge (in Japanese)
Hokusai's painting (Interesting to see his perception of the stone pillars: compare my essay on walls. And for more than you ever needed to know about bridges, read J. E. Gordon.)
In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 300 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: B73153 (73-153 on box)
Retail price ¥1200 (approx. US$13.95 €11.43 £9.30)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$5.81 €4.76 £3.88)
Buy this puzzle
Add to basket
All about ordering (please read first)
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