Tokugawa Ieyasu: The Real Shogun Behind Shōgun

Index

The Real-Life Inspiration Behind Yoshii Toranaga in Shōgun
Profile
Travel Guide
Travel Journal
From History to Screen: Meet Yoshii Toranaga

The Real-Life Inspiration Behind Yoshii Toranaga in Shōgun

For those who have watched the drama Shōgun, the stories of protagonist John Blackthorne and Yoshii Toranaga are truly captivating. The character of Yoshii Toranaga is actually based on a real historical figure: Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Profile

From Chaos to Peace: The Life of Tokugawa Ieyasu

Life of Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616) was one of the most significant military commanders in Japanese history and is known as the founder of the Edo Shogunate. He survived the turmoil of the Sengoku period and established a long-lasting ...

Travel Guide

The Definitive Guide to Nijo-jo Castle

The Castle Where Shoguns Met Emperors—A Living World Heritage [Where the Shogunate Began—and Ended] In Kyoto—the imperial capital for a thousand years—there is just one castle built expressly “for a shogun.”That is Nijo Castle.Its story begins with the Old Nijo ...

Asakusa and the Tokugawa Shoguns: A Complete Guide to Sacred Sites Linked to Tokugawa Ieyasu

Did You Know About the Connection Between Sensō-ji and the Tokugawa Shogunate? The Era of Ieyasu — The Beginning of Edo's Patronage In 1590, after Tokugawa Ieyasu entered Edo, Sensō-ji Temple came under the protection of the shogunate. While Ieyasu’s ...

Overview Page Introduction (for “Himeji Castle”)

Himeji Castle – Discover Japan’s Finest Surviving Feudal Fortress Step into a living masterpiece of feudal architecture and discover the pristine legacy of Japan’s samurai age in the heart of Hyogo Prefecture. Himeji Castle, crowned by its elegant white Main ...

Overview Page Introduction (for “Osaka Castle Park”)

Osaka Castle – Explore the Castle Grounds in the Heart of Osaka Step into the historic seat of samurai ambition and discover a dynamic retreat at the heart of Osaka. Osaka Castle Park surrounds the iconic reconstructed Main Tower of ...

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 ...

Nagoya Castle – Table of Contents

Walking Through Nagoya Castle — Timeless Stone Walls and the Architectural Grandeur of the Tokugawa Era The legacy of Nagoya Castle traces back to the turbulent Sengoku period. Originally, a fortress named Nagono Castle stood on this site, built in ...

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 ...

Discover the Sacred Sites of Tokugawa Ieyasu: Nikko Edition

Discover the History of Nikko: A Walking Tour Embark on a special self-guided walking tour through the historic city of Nikko, tracing the footsteps of Tokugawa Ieyasu. This tour takes you through significant sites associated with the founder of the ...

Travel Journal

Exploring the Sengoku Heritage of Mino and Ōmi: From Nangū Taisha to Azuchi Castle and the Azuchi Castle Archaeological Museum (Travel Log)

🛡️ From the Echoes of Sekigahara to Azuchi — Following the “Shrine Protected by Tokugawa” Along the Samurai Route to “Nobunaga’s City” Ōgaki Station The journey begins in Ōgaki, stretching from Tarui toward the old province of Ōmi. After paying ...

A Journey Through Nagoya’s Samurai Past: From Arako’s Toshiie Maeda Statue to Sōōji Temple and the Tokugawa Museum

⚔️ A journey into the heart of samurai romance — exploring the “sacred sites” of Lord Toshiie Maeda, the man who laid the foundation for the Kaga Domain’s million-koku prosperity! Ever since I was captivated by Lord Toshiie Maeda’s life ...

August 2025: Nikko Toshogu Shrine – Special Prayer Tour in the Shogun’s Seated Chamber | Travel Diary

Our first stop of the morning was the “Senhime Monogatari Hotel.” As the name suggests, it’s named after Princess Senhime, who is historically associated with Himeji Castle. The hotel is known for blending the charm of historical Japan with the ...

Special Report: Exclusive Access to Himeji Castle’s Hishi-no-Mon Gate

The Journey to Himeji and the Rising Anticipation Early in the morning, I boarded the first train from Shin-Yokohama and took the Shinkansen Hikari bound for Himeji. Although I’ve visited Himeji Castle many times before, the moment I step off ...

A Historical Journey Through Kaneiji Temple: Walking Among the Resting Places of the Tokugawa Shoguns

A Day Begins in the Tranquility of Ueno The sun was already beating down relentlessly on Ueno Park early in the morning. At 10:30 a.m., I arrived at the meeting point for the much-anticipated Kan'ei-ji Terakoya Experience & Tokugawa Shogunate ...

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 ...

Joining the Public Opening of Inui Street at the Imperial Palace — A Special Morning Woven with History and Nature

One early spring day, when the first signs of the season’s change began to appear, I took part in the special public opening of the Inui Street at the Imperial Palace. To be ready for the 9:00 a.m. gate opening, ...

My Visit to the Imperial Palace – Former Edo Castle Site

As of March 2025, the Imperial Palace, which stands on the historic site of Edo Castle, offers a free general visit with a limited number of participants. This diary entry details my experience of joining the tour. For more information, ...