Tokyo Region

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

From Shōgun’s Toranaga to the Real Tokugawa Ieyasu: Why Nikkō Tōshōgū Matters

Yōmeimon Gate and Torii If you came here because Shōgun made you curious about “Toranaga,” you’re already close to the real story. Tokugawa Ieyasu—the historical figure behind that archetype—was enshrined at Nikkō, and his grandson, the third shogun Iemitsu, rebuilt ...

Nikko Toshogu for Shōgun Fans: Tickets, Access, Time Needed & Best Walking Route (On-site Check: 2026/2/22)

If Shōgun made you curious about Toranaga, Nikko is the best place to turn that curiosity into something real.Nikko Toshogu enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu—the historical figure most closely associated with the kind of long-game power the drama made famous. And what’s ...

Tokugawa Ieyasu in Asakusa: Sensō-ji Walking Route, Access Tips, and What Survives Today

If you want to trace the footprints of Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Tokugawa shoguns on foot in Asakusa, it’s easiest to follow the story by focusing on the key landmarks around Senso-ji’s precincts—its gates, main hall, the Nitenmon Gate, and ...

A Midsummer Return to Hamamatsu: A Day Exploring Landmarks Linked to Tokugawa Ieyasu

A midsummer journey through Hamamatsu, retracing the footsteps of Tokugawa Ieyasu.From Hamamatsu Castle to Gosha Shrine, Suwa Shrine, and the grave of Tsukiyama Gozen, I spent an entire day walking among sites that still echo the Sengoku era. Beneath the ...

William Adams (Miura Anjin) Travel Guide: Yokosuka Edition

📍 Tracing the Legacy of William Adams: A Yokosuka Walking Tour Ever wondered what it was like to walk in the footsteps of Japan’s first English samurai, William Adams?This self-guided walking tour takes you through the historic sites in Yokosuka ...

Miura Anjin’s Legacy in Tokyo: Historical Spots to Explore

A short walk from Tokyo Station, a monument quietly commemorates Miura Anjin (William Adams). This page explores the story behind this historic site. If you have a bit of spare time—perhaps while waiting for a Shinkansen—it’s well worth a brief ...

Uraga — Historic Sites Associated with Miura Anjin

Anjin, the blue-eyed samurai portrayed in the TV drama "SHŌGUN," was inspired by the real-life figure William Adams—known in Japan as Miura Anjin. One of the key places with which he was deeply involved was the port town of Uraga ...

Edo Castle – Tracing the Legacy of Tokugawa in the Heart of Tokyo

Fujimi Yagura Tenshu dai 🏯 Edo Castle: Tracing the Legacy of Tokugawa in the Heart of Tokyo ✨ Introduction Once the center of power for the Tokugawa shogunate, Edo Castle stood at the heart of what is now modern-day Tokyo—a ...

Tokugawa Ieyasu’s Historic Landmarks in Ueno, Ochanomizu, and Korakuen

Ueno Area Ueno Toshogu Shrine Ueno Toshogu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Ueno Onshi Park, Taito City, Tokyo. It enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Originally built in 1627, the shrine's current structure was reconstructed ...