Japanese Puzzle Boxes

The history of Japanese puzzle boxes begins in 1800s from Hakone, Japan. It’s known as himitsu-bako, appear to be decorative jewelry boxes. In reality, these tricky boxes are so much more than that, hiding hidden treasures. The original himitsu-bako were just small trinkets for holding odds and ends like a needle and thread. As they grew larger and more elaborate, they came to be known as sikake-bako, or tei-bako – trick box, or clever box.

Japanese puzzle boxes can only be opened if only the correct sequence is known. Simple trick boxes can have as few as four moves, while more elaborate designs can require 50 or more moves. At NEW2PLAY, all the Japanese puzzle box are sourced directly from Japan, handmade with native Japanese wood by the best Japanese craftsman.