Tokaido is a board game designed by Antoine Bauza that simulates a journey along the famous East Sea Road in Japan during the Edo period. In this game, players take on the role of travelers who visit various locations, interact with locals, and experience Japanese culture.
To play Tokaido:
Setup: Each player chooses a traveler pawn and receives a player board, coins, and color-coded tokens. The main board is placed in the center, representing the path of the Tokaido road with different spaces to visit.
Gameplay: Players take turns moving their traveler pawn along the road, choosing one of the available spaces at each stop. There are several types of spaces:
Villages: Players can buy souvenirs or encounter locals, gaining special abilities or collecting sets of items for points.
Farms: Players earn coins by working on farms.
Hot Springs: Resting here allows you to regain energy (movement points).
Panorama spots: Players collect panoramic cards, which depict beautiful landscapes worth points at the end of the game.
Temples: Making donations grants players achievement cards, which provide additional victory points.
Inns: Players must pay coins to stay overnight, but it provides them with unique benefits.
Scoring: The game ends when all players reach the last space on the road. Final scoring occurs after counting points earned throughout the journey:
Achievement cards: Points are awarded based on collected achievement cards.
Panoramic cards: Players score points based on the number of panoramas they collected.
Sets of souvenirs: Extra points are given for having complete sets of different souvenirs.
Money: Any remaining coins also contribute to the total score.
The player with the most points wins the game!
Playing Tokaido offers insight into Japanese culture and heritage in several ways:
Artwork: The game features stunning artwork that showcases traditional Japanese landscapes, architecture, and cultural elements. It provides players with a visual representation of the country's rich heritage.
Locations and interactions: As players progress along the Tokaido road, they visit different locations representing historical sites, villages, temples, and more. Interacting with locals and engaging in activities at each stop helps players learn about various aspects of Japanese culture, such as traditions, crafts, cuisine, and customs.
Souvenirs and panoramas: Collecting souvenirs and panoramic cards highlights iconic elements of Japanese culture, including famous landmarks, art forms like calligraphy or tea ceremonies, regional delicacies, and natural wonders. This encourages players to appreciate and gain knowledge about these cultural aspects.
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