northern sea; North Sea; Hokkaido
(Japanese) larch (Larix leptolepis, Larix kaempferi)
American (and-or Canadian) wood
(United States of) America; United States; US; America (land mass); the Americas
outskirts (of a town); run-down district
poor; meagre; meager; feeble; scanty; shabby
multi-floor building; multi-storey building; tall building
calm; graceful; quiet; mellow; damp; moist
natural features; topography; climate; spiritual features
blessings of nature; nature's bounty; gifts of nature
to be awarded (e.g. a prize); to be given an award; to be gifted or endowed (e.g. with a talent); to be blessed (e.g. with a child); to be initiated (e.g. into a secret)
disaster; calamity; misfortune; trouble; woes
unknown; obscure; insignificant
townhouse (i.e. house in the middle of a town); traditional townhouse; tradesman's house (esp. a home with a shop in front); merchant's house; merchant's family
mud wall; earthen wall; plaster wall
traveller; traveler; wayfarer; tourist
cane; walking stick; staff; wand
to stop; to stay (e.g. the night); to contain; to keep (in position, in place); to record (e.g. a fact); to retain
taste; elegance; appearance; air; the likes of ...; lowly people such as ...
especially; particularly; unusually; (arch.) additionally
castle town; city in Japan that developed around the castle of a feudal lord
town; city; municipal; urban
dry riverbed; river beach
society; the world; the times
young lady of noble birth; princess (esp. in Western contexts, tales, etc.); girl; small; cute; (arch.) prostitute
Wakayama (city, prefecture)
shrine; palace; imperial residence; Imperial prince; Imperial princess; headboard with built-in shelves, drawers, etc.
feudal era; feudal times; feudal period; feudal age; age of feudalism
face; looks; vestiges; trace
deep (colour); dark; strong (flavour, smell, etc.); thick (consistency); dense; strong (possibility, etc.)
commonplace; ordinary; typical; ubiquitous; run-of-the-mill; mundane
every (usu. with events, e.g. every weekend); each
to become stronger; to grow in intensity; to grow violent; to invite contributions, etc.; to solicit help, participation, etc.; to recruit (e.g. soldiers)
lion; left-hand guardian dog at a Shinto shrine
rock; boulder; crag; cliff; anchor
Shikoku (smallest of the four main islands of Japan)
China; Chūgoku region (western part of Honshu comprising the prefectures of Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tottori and Shimane); central part of a country; main region; province of the second lowest rank (ritsuryo system)
crossroads; intersection; crossway; carrefour
key; lock; key (to a problem); clue