Manipulative Puzzles

HANAYAMA VORTEX PUZZLE - LEVEL 5

"The three pieces each have a spiral (vortex) body and two protrusions. When assembled together, each piece is unified into a flat object. In order to undo this complex entanglement it will be necessary to unbind them three dimensionally. The motivation...

HANAYAMA VIOLIN PUZZLE - LEVEL 3

"Patented in America in 1965, this puzzle was originally created by Joseph L. Litle. The idea to make this puzzle came to me after playing with a wooden copy built for me by my close, but now deceased friend, Tadao Muroi. The proportions have been...

HANAYAMA U&U PUZZLE - LEVEL 4

Two U-shaped bolts and four nuts – this looks like a combination of spare parts but looks are deceiving. This puzzle comes with a deviously hidden trick. The key to unlocking these parts is to look carefully at each part first. The theme is...

HANAYAMA TRINITY PUZZLE - LEVEL 6

With this puzzle, each piece is entangled with the other two pieces. Its organic design without a grip is interesting. Since there are combinations other than those pictured, we hope you enjoy trial and error. Designed by puzzle writer Kyoo Wong of Hong...

HANAYAMA SQUARE PUZZLE - LEVEL 6

This puzzle consists of 4 pieces that are combined to form a square.… Will you be able to take it apart? What’s more, these pieces have a secret: each time their arrangement is changed when recreating the original shape, the solution changes...

HANAYAMA SPIRAL PUZZLE - LEVEL 5

"At first glance, this puzzle by Kennet Walker of Rivermore, California doesn’t seem un-lockable. The five pieces, however, can most certainly be taken apart. Putting them back together, however, is a whole new problem in itself. My suggestion for...

HANAYAMA RING PUZZLE - LEVEL 4

"This puzzle is based on an original called the 'Puzz-Ring.' Popularized in 15th century Europe, this ring style was actually used for official engagement and marriage rings. Christian reformist, Martin Luther, was even known to wear one. It is...

HANAYAMA QUARTET PUZZLE - LEVEL 6

"True bonds has always been hard to form but once formed, such bonds are eternal and hard to break. My original version was created with this image in mind, but the puzzle was completed into a Cast Puzzle with a bond that is truly difficult to...

HANAYAMA NUTCASE PUZZLE - LEVEL 5

There are two goals to the Cast Nutcase created by the Dutch puzzle inventor, Oskar Deventer: 1. Remove the small nut by disassembling the Cast Nutcase. 2. Cast puzzle enthusiasts (nutcase) can enjoy trying to change the wording on the bolt from...

HANAYAMA NEWS PUZZLE - LEVEL 6

  "I came up with the idea for this puzzle when I was 19 years old.  It just came to me during a stroll home in the snow, truly a creation of my youth. Unfortunately, saying anything here about its construction would give away how to solve it...

HANAYAMA INFINITY PUZZLE - LEVEL 6

This puzzle is called Infinity not only for its appearance, but also because its movement continues endlessly until the pieces are taken apart. Even though it looks simple, solving this puzzle will entertain you for hours. By Finnish designer Vesa...

HANAYAMA HELIX PUZZLE - LEVEL 5

The grooves engraved in the two rotating boards are called "logarithmic spirals." These two grooves always cross at right angles, and a square hole is formed at their intersection.  The goal of this puzzle is to remove the helix ring that goes...

HANAYAMA HARMONY PUZZLE - LEVEL 2

The “G clef” and “eighth note” intertwine and give off a beautiful note as if they’re playing music. Even though it does not resemble a puzzle at first glance, but it is as beautiful to the eye, as it is fun to play. Theme:...

HANAYAMA ENIGMA PUZZLE - LEVEL 6

"Patented in America in 1975, the somewhat swirled pieces of this puzzle by Eldon Vaughn must be disjoined and then put back together. I once found a smaller version of this puzzle about twenty years ago in America, but considered it impossible to solve...

HANAYAMA CYLINDER PUZZLE - LEVEL 4

As the name implies, there is a trick hidden inside the cylinder puzzle. There is absolutely no hint or clue on how to start from the outside appearance. If there is one hint that we can provide, it is to go about it as if you were cracking open a...

HANAYAMA COIL PUZZLE - LEVEL 3

It appears like a box-like lump with a hole in it, but is actually comprised of two coiled up virtually identical pieces. You must try to take it apart by sliding and rotating the pieces. Although the pieces are angular in shape, they can be rotated in...

HANAYAMA COASTER PUZZLE - LEVEL 4

Serhiy Grabarchuk is a famous Ukrainian puzzle designer who lives in Uzhgorod. The puzzle depicted on the piece of drawing that he sent looked like a strange adornment weaved into a "coiffure" design. If you put a glass carefully onto the completing...

HANAYAMA CHAIN PUZZLE - LEVEL 6

"There’s a whole of wisdom wrapped up in this Oskar Deventer masterpiece. The three pieces can be separated and then joined again in their original form.  What’s special about this puzzle is that it can be solved three different...