Samurai & Edo History in Tokyo and Nikko: Castle, Shrine & Temple Site Guides

Where Edo Lives On: Discovering the Samurai Legacy Beneath Tokyo’s Surface

Today’s capital, Tokyo, began as a small fishing village once known as “Edo.” Its destiny changed dramatically thanks to Tokugawa Ieyasu. After his victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu established Edo as his base of power and founded the shogunate, ushering in a peaceful era that would last for about 260 years—known as the Edo period.

Edo eventually grew into one of the world’s largest cities. Following the Meiji Restoration, it was renamed Tokyo, and with the Emperor’s relocation from Kyoto, it became the political and cultural heart of modern Japan.

In Tokyo today, you’ll find numerous sites that preserve the memory of this historical evolution. From the **remains of Edo Castle (now the Imperial Palace)**, to neighborhoods like Ueno and Asakusa that retain the charm of Edo-period culture, and a range of Meiji-era architecture and museums—this city is a living crossroads of samurai heritage and modern transformation.

Tokyo is not just a sleek, modern metropolis—it is also a historic city where the era of the samurai and modern Japan coexist.

Places to Visit