Welcome to Following the SHŌGUN – a travel and history guide for those intrigued by Japan’s samurai heritage, particularly fans of the SHŌGUN TV series and the Sengoku period. I have personally visited more than 200 castles, battlefields, and historic sites across Japan, and every guide on this site is built on those firsthand journeys — complete with my own photography and 360° panoramas that let you stand where history happened.
Why I Started This Project
Although the world today is not entirely free from conflict, compared to the constant warfare in Japan’s past, we live in an incredibly peaceful time. As someone who has never experienced war firsthand, I was deeply moved when I began to study Japanese history and learned how countless people fought, suffered, and hoped for a better future. Even decisions that were controversial or brutal at the time helped shape the society we live in today. That realization gave me a sense of respect for everyone in the past—regardless of whether they were heroes or villains.
My motivation is simple: I want to help people connect with that history, not just through books or dramas—but by standing where it happened, imagining the people who lived and fought there, and feeling the invisible echoes of their lives.
Who I Am
I’m a Japanese native who studied at a university in the English-speaking world. As I grew older, I developed a strong fascination with history—especially the kind you can feel under your feet. Since then, I have walked the grounds of over 200 historic sites throughout Japan, reaching that milestone in 2025, and I continue to explore and publish new guides.
I started this website in English because I found there were far fewer high-quality, experience-based resources for English-speaking travelers compared to what’s available in Japanese. Being a native Japanese speaker means I can read the local signage, regional archives, and museum exhibits firsthand—and bring that information to readers who couldn’t otherwise access it.
How I Research and Explore
My own visits are always the primary source. Everything else supports and verifies what I observe on the ground:
- On-site exploration, photography, and 360° panoramas — terrain and elevation, the current state of ruins and fortifications, walking routes, and everything else you can only learn by being there
- Local signage and museum exhibits — interpretive panels and displays maintained by the sites themselves, read in the original Japanese
- Official sources from municipalities and tourism associations — for verifying practical details such as opening hours, admission fees, and access
- History books and scholarly works — for the historical background of events and figures
Japanese historical dramas—especially Taiga Drama, the annual year-long series produced by Japan’s national broadcaster NHK—were my own gateway into this world, and I sometimes use them as a lens for exploring the real locations behind the stories. The facts in my articles, however, always rest on the sources above and on what I confirm in person.
Where historical accounts differ or something couldn’t be verified on site, I say so plainly rather than presenting speculation as fact. If you ever spot an error, please let me know via the contact page—I review every report.
Who This Is For
This site is for anyone who:
- Loved the SHŌGUN series and wants to go deeper
- Is planning a trip to Japan with a passion for history
- Enjoys visiting lesser-known spots with real historical significance
- Wants more than just sightseeing—you’re looking to feel history
Thank you for visiting, and I hope this site helps you discover the samurai spirit that still echoes across Japan.
Site Information
Site name: Following the SHŌGUN
Operated by: Following the SHŌGUN (site administrator)
Established: 2025
📧 Contact: Contact Page
📜 Terms of Use / Privacy Policy
