Thursday Postcard Hunt | Japanese Tower

This Gotochi card features the temple of Aizu Sazaedo in the prefecture of Fukushima (Japan). It is a 16,5 m high, three-storied, hexagonal Buddisht pagoda.  Built in 1796 it is one of the oldest wooden structures of its kind, but perhaps most notable for its unique double helix-shaped stairway: entering inside and turning to the right-hand side, you'll follow a singular, spiral path that takes you right up to the top and back down again without ever encountering anybody going in the opposite direction.

I got this directly from Japan, inside an envelope with beautiful stamps.

(If you feel curious, you can see all the Gotochi cards here).

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
July theme: WAYMARKERS

• Week 1 - Maps
• Week 2 - Lighthouses
• Week 3 - Cathedrals
• Week 4 - Towers

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

Japan Week - 1

Some weeks ago, I had my particular Japan Week thanks to mail...

Do you know the Gotochi cards?

Gotochi cards are designed and released by the Japanese Postal System, and each one of them represents a place in Japan - hence the name 'gotochi', which means 'local'. They showcase Japanese symbols (which might be local dishes, costumes, monuments, landscapes, etc.) on a national and regional level, in a brightly coloured and fun cartoon.

Gotochi cards have a couple of unique features that make them special. First of all, they are not perfect rectangles, but in fact take on the shape of their picture. Also, each card not only has a cartoon picture on it, but also the name of the place that is depicted in the image. Every prefecture has multiple cards, which might be one of the reasons that collecting them has taken off and became such a popular hobby! (Taken from the Postcrossing blog).

I had seen many, many, many of these cards on the net. But I had not received any of them until the twin of this one landed in my mailbox. It arrived from Japan... after a short layover in Heleen's mailbox (the Netherlands). It was beautifully stamped on the back: