Takamatsu – Kinashi Bonsai Prefecture

We stayed in a “salaryman hotel” in Takamatsu City. Beeru on the Pieru was a daily occurance at a little beer bar on the pier beside the ferry terminal.
Takamatsu was one of our favorite destinations in Japan. We were the only foreigners that we saw for the week we spent there and this really made it feel like a unique slice of Japan. Like many other cities in Japan, we hired bicycles for our stay and rode them just about everywhere. You can pick up bikes for hire – $2(AU) per day at the Takamatsu station – It’s underground. I recommend seeking assistance from the information building near the station, or at the bus terminus near the station.

Kinashi is west of the City of Takamatsu. I hopped on a train to Kinashi.

I met a lovely couple in Nursery #2, they were the 4th generation tending to this particular nursery, this couple gave me the map pictured. This was a very novel concept. Every nursery that you visit on the map has a stamp that represents a portion of a bonsai picture. I got to most of the nurseries - however not all stamps were collected because I received the map after I had visited some already.

There is no english version of this map that I am aware of.

If a kind soul would like to translate the map and directions please let me know. I am certain this info will help other visitors greatly. I am working on putting titles to the pictures containing Japanese text that I would like translated. If you are able to assist with translations – please quote the title, ie:  ”stamp map front view”.

“Stamp Map” Front View -  Brief Translation courtesy of Alain Bertrand

This page provides some basic advice for pine bonsai care (where to put, them, how to water them and the like).

“Stamp Map” Rear View – Translation Courtesy of Alain Bertrand. This page states that if you get the nine stamps on the map, you’ll get a nice bonsai item.

 

1 Kitatani Shinmatsu-en

2 Nakanishi Chinmatsu-en

3 Hanazawa Myôshun-en (Nursery of next spring)

4 Omichi (???) Kyômatsu-en

5 Kitani Shokuko (???)-en

6 Matsuda Seisho-en

7 Kamidaka Fukumatsu-en

8 Kitatani Yôbon-en

9 Onishi (or Konishi) Rakumatsu-en.

 Alain Bertrand has kindly provided translations of the nine nursery names listed above. Even when you know the kanji, there are usually several pronounciations. So there may be alternate meanings.

Quote from  the Official Kinashi Web Site“[Kinashi] is so unpopular name in Japan. [KI] shows the Japanese name of ogre. [NASI] is non. We usually called the people of pirate as a ogre in old time. Thus, Kinashi might be the safe place even from pirate peoples from old time. Bonsai must be one way to keep Peace of Mind from the old time. Old people in Kinashi might try to feel kind to others from growing Bonsai.”