following the shogun | Following The Shogun

Gifu Castle Visitor Guide 2026 — Ruins, Routes & What to See During the Closure

Inabayama Castle — later renamed Gifu Castle by Nobunaga — is featured in the 2026 Taiga Drama. The keep closes May 2026, but stone walls & ruins stay open. Routes & access inside.

2026.03.07

Nagoya-Gifu AreaNobunaga Travel GuideOda Nobunaga

Toyotomi Brothers! Unuma Castle Ruins: Best Viewpoints (Even Though It’s Closed)

Featured in the 2026 Taiga drama Toyotomi Brothers!, Unuma Castle Ruins are off-limits—but the real thrill is the geography: a dramatic face-off with Inuyama Castle across the Kiso River. Find the best viewpoints (Inuyama Bridge, opposite bank, Mt. Iki) plus easy photo tips.

2026.03.02

Hideyoshi Travel GuideNobunaga Travel GuideOda NobunagaTaiga DramaToyotomi Hideyoshi

Shiga / Nagahama | Toyotomi Brothers! Kita-Ōmi Nagahama Taiga Drama Museum — Another Way to Experience the Drama in Nagahama’s Castle Town

Experience the world of the NHK Taiga drama Toyotomi Brothers! in Nagahama, Shiga. An on-site review of the Kita-Ōmi Nagahama Taiga Drama Museum—featuring costumes and props, actor interviews, making-of footage, and even an original video on the Battle of Okehazama.

2026.03.01

Hideyoshi Travel GuideOsaka-Kyoto AreaTaiga Drama

Toyotomi Brothers! Exploring Sunomata Ichiya Castle: A Guide to the Site and the Taikōki Legend

A complete guide to Sumomata Ichiyajo Castle (Sunomata Historical Museum). We cover parking gate hours, car and bus access, estimated visit time, key highlights, and the nearby Toyokuni Shrine. Explore the legendary "overnight castle" from the Taiko-ki through the lens of the actual site.

2026.03.01

Hideyoshi Travel GuideNagoya-Gifu AreaToyotomi Hideyoshi

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

Curious about Shōgun’s Toranaga? Nikko Toshogu shows the historical Tokugawa Ieyasu—and how his shrine turns power into “peace” you can feel, step by step, through its architecture.

2026.02.26

Ieyasu Travel GuideTokugawa IeyasuTokyo Area

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

Visiting Nikko after watching Shōgun? A practical Nikko Toshogu guide focusing on ticket choices (including discounts) and the best walking route. Includes the easiest access from the stations (bus stop tips like Yasukawacho and Shinkyo), realistic time estimates, plus Okumiya and Taiyuin planning, rainy/winter safety notes, and where to get goshuin.

2026.02.25

Ieyasu Travel GuideTokugawa IeyasuTokyo Area

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

Follow an easy Sensō-ji walking route in Asakusa to trace Tokugawa Ieyasu. See which gates and structures survive from the Edo period, which were rebuilt, where to receive a goshuin, how long to allow, and how to avoid crowds or rainy-day confusion.

2026.02.18

Ieyasu Travel GuideTokugawa IeyasuTokyo Area

Exploring Nobunaga’s Gifu: A Practical Guide to Sites, Transit, and Goshuin

Inabayama / Gifu Castle — Nobunaga's stronghold featured in the 2026 Taiga Drama. Half- or full-day routes from Gifu Station, with walk/bus tips, time estimates & goshuin info.

2026.02.11

Nagoya-Gifu AreaNobunaga Travel GuideOda Nobunaga

The Complete Komakiyama Castle Travel Guide

Visit Komakiyama Castle, key to the 1584 Komaki–Nagakute conflict. Follow the best route via Rekishiru Komaki, ramparts, moats & gates (60–90 min).

2026.02.08

Hideyoshi Travel GuideIeyasu Travel GuideNagoya-Gifu AreaNobunaga Travel GuideOda NobunagaTokugawa IeyasuToyotomi Hideyoshi

The Complete Inuyama Castle Travel Guide: Honmachi Street Route, the Main Tower, and Urakuen Garden

A complete guide to Inuyama Castle—back in the spotlight thanks to NHK’s 2026 Taiga drama Toyotomi Brothers. Follow the most photogenic approach from Honmachi Street to the National Treasure main tower, then continue to Urakuen Garden (Jo-an teahouse) and the relocated gates, including the Uchida Gate, without getting lost.

2026.02.08

Hideyoshi Travel GuideNagoya-Gifu AreaNobunaga Travel GuideOda NobunagaToyotomi Hideyoshi