Contents
Welcome to the world of Tokaido!
Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey along the Tokaido, the famous road in Japan? In this game, we’ll dive into the captivating world of ancient Japan, exploring temples, hot springs, and breathtaking landscapes.
The goal of the game is simple – to have the most fulfilling journey possible. As you travel along the Tokaido, you’ll have opportunities to visit various locations, meet interesting people, and collect memorable souvenirs.
Each player will take turns moving their character along the path, choosing which locations to visit. There are different types of locations you can stop at, each offering unique experiences and benefits.
For example, you might choose to visit a hot spring to relax and regain some energy. Or perhaps you’ll decide to dine at a delicious restaurant and try some mouthwatering Japanese cuisine. You could also visit a temple to seek spiritual enlightenment and gain wisdom.
As you visit different locations, you’ll have the chance to collect various souvenirs and encounter special characters. These souvenirs will not only remind you of your journey but also earn you points at the end of the game. The unique characters you meet along the way can provide you with valuable opportunities and even change the course of your journey.
It’s important to plan your moves carefully and make the most of each stop. You’ll have to consider which locations will benefit you the most and make decisions based on that. But be aware, as you progress along the path, the order in which players take their turns will change, adding a strategic twist to the game.
At the end of the journey, you’ll earn points based on various factors – such as the souvenirs you collected, the panoramas you completed, and the types of locations you visited. The player with the most points will be declared the winner and become a true master of the Tokaido!
Now that you understand the basics of the game, it’s time to gather your friends and set off on an unforgettable adventure. Get ready to soak in the beauty of Japan’s ancient road and create memories that will last a lifetime. Enjoy your journey along the Tokaido!
Imagine you’re a traveler in ancient Japan, embarking on a remarkable journey along the renowned Tokaido. Your mission? To make this adventure unforgettable, filled with vibrant experiences at every turn.
As you traverse this majestic land, you’ll witness breathtaking countryside vistas, indulge in mouthwatering culinary delights, collect unique souvenirs, and bask in the healing properties of soothing hot springs. But most importantly, you’ll forge connections with extraordinary individuals that will leave an indelible mark on your memory.
Getting Ready
- First, find a flat surface to place the game board on.
- Next, take the Achievement cards and put them face up next to the board.
- Now, shuffle the Meal cards with the red backs and create a pile with them facing down.
- Do the same with the Souvenir cards, which have brown backs.
- Shuffle the Encounter cards with purple backs and create a face-down pile.
- Also, shuffle the Hot spring cards with light blue backs and create a face-down pile.
- Finally, sort the Panorama cards by type (Sea, Mountain, Paddy) and then by value. The cards with the number 1 should be placed at the top, followed by the number 2, and so on.
Put the 7 resulting piles in their corresponding spots on the board.
Now it’s time for each player to choose a Traveler piece. Make sure to grab the marker and color token (bag) that matches your chosen Traveler. Put the marker on square 0 of the path that records Journey points.
Alright, here’s what you gotta do:
First, grab two Traveler tiles. Doesn’t matter which ones, just pick ’em at random. Then, take a good look at those tiles and choose one to keep. Put it face up on the table in front of you.
Now, take your color token, also known as your bag, and plop it into the hole on your Traveler tile. Nice and snug.
The tiles you didn’t choose? Yeah, just toss ’em back in the box. They’re out of the game now.
Oh, and don’t forget to count the coins in the upper right corner of your chosen tile. That’s your starting bank for this journey.
Lastly, let’s get things started. Grab all the Traveler pieces and line ’em up at the 1st inn, which happens to be in Kyoto. Just throw ’em down there randomly, no particular order needed.
Now, it’s time to play!
In Tokaido, the player whose Traveler is the furthest behind on the road – meaning they have the longest distance to travel to reach their destination – is the player who gets to take the next turn. That player must move their Traveler forward, towards Edo, and they can choose any open space to move into. They can freely pass over one or more open spaces if they want to.
After they have moved their Traveler, the player receives a benefit based on the type of space they moved into. The different types of spaces and their benefits are explained on this page and the next page of the rules.
In most cases, when a Traveler has finished their turn, another Traveler will be the last one on the road, and it will be their turn next. However, sometimes the last Traveler may still be last after moving, in which case they get to go again immediately.
Now let’s talk about single and double spaces.
Hey there! Let me break it down for you. Some spaces on the board are doubled, which means they have two portions. When a traveler lands on a double space, they have to occupy the space on the road if it’s free. If another traveler comes along, they have to take the second space.
Now, these double spaces are only used when there are 4 or 5 players playing the game. If there are only 2 or 3 players, then the second space, which is off the road, cannot be occupied.
Let me tell you about the different types of spaces.
Every move you make will leave you on one of the 8 types of spaces or one of the Inn spaces. Whenever I mention “collection”, I’m referring to all the cards you’ve collected and placed face up during the game.
Oh, and just so you know, travelers get to score all the points they earn during their journey right away.
Village
When you start the game, you’ll draw the first 3 Souvenir cards from the pile. Put them face up in front of you. Then, take a look at the price written on each card and decide which one or ones you want to buy.
If there are any cards left over, put them face down at the bottom of the pile. Each Souvenir card is unique and falls into one of 4 categories: small objects, clothing, art, and food & drinks.
To get the most points, it’s best to collect Souvenirs from each category. But don’t worry, you can buy and score for Souvenirs of any type.
When you buy Souvenir cards, group them into sets in front of you. Each set can only have one Souvenir from each category.
- I’ll start by explaining the value of each Souvenir in a set.
- When you have the first Souvenir in a set, it’s worth 1 point.
- If you manage to get a second Souvenir, and it’s a different type than the first one, you’ll earn 3 points.
- But it gets even better! If you find a third Souvenir, and it’s different from the first two, you’ll be rewarded with 5 points.
- And finally, if you’re lucky enough to collect a fourth Souvenir, as long as it’s different from the first three, you’ll grab a whopping 7 points!
I bet you’re excited to start collecting, aren’t you? Each Souvenir adds to your score, so try to gather as many as possible to rack up those points. Good luck!
When I add cards to my collection, I earn points. Let me give you some examples of souvenir collecting and the points you can earn.
Remember: You need to have at least 1 coin to stop in a Village, but you don’t have to buy any souvenirs.
Farm
When I play Farm, I get 3 coins from the reserve and add them to my bank. It’s pretty cool because there’s no limit to how many coins I can collect. I can keep amassing them as much as I want!
Panorama Explained
Panoramas are pictures formed by combining multiple sections, usually 3, 4, or 5 of them.
Imagine you’re playing a game, and you reach a Panorama Station. If you haven’t collected any Panorama cards of that specific type, you get one with a value of 1 less than the highest number you have. For example, if you don’t have any Panorama cards of that type, you’ll get a value of 2 if your highest card is 3.
But if you already have some Panorama cards, you’ll get the next number in ascending order. So, if you have a 1 and a 3, you’ll get a 2. Simple, right?
And here’s the exciting part – as soon as you get your hands on a Panorama card, you score points! The number of points you earn is equal to the value of the card. It can be 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, depending on the specific panorama.
Just remember, you can only create one panorama of each type. Once you complete a panorama, you can’t stop at spaces that correspond to that type anymore. So choose wisely when deciding which landscapes, like Sea, Mountain, or Paddy, to focus on!
Warm Bath
When I play this game, I get to take a Warm Bath card from the deck and add it to my stash.
These cards give me either 2 or 3 points.
Temple
When I play the game, I get to donate coins to the temple. I can choose to donate 1, 2, or 3 coins, and I put them in the Temple section of the board in my color’s area. It’s really cool because when I donate a coin, I automatically earn 1 point for it!
Oh, by the way, if I land on a Temple space while traveling, I have to donate at least 1 coin as an offering. But remember, I can’t donate more than 3 coins, no matter how generous I feel!
Adventures
I’m going to show you a fun game where you can explore different encounters. To play, all you need to do is reveal the top card of the Adventure pile and see what happens! Let’s take a look at the different effects you might encounter:
- Treasure: You find a hidden treasure! Add the card to your collection and celebrate your victory.
- Challenge: Uh-oh, it’s time for a challenge! The Encounter card will present you with a tricky situation or a problem to solve. Use your skills and decide how to overcome it.
- Friendship: It’s always nice to make new friends! When you encounter a Friendship card, you meet a friendly character who wants to join you on your adventure. Add the card to your collection and enjoy the company.
- Obstacle: Watch out for obstacles! These Encounter cards present you with a hurdle that you need to overcome. It could be a physical challenge, a puzzle, or something else. Use your wits and find a way to move forward.
After you’ve experienced the effect of an Encounter card, don’t forget to add it to your collection. The more cards you collect, the more exciting your adventure becomes! Are you ready to embark on this thrilling journey?
Shokunin (Traveling Merchant)
Hey there! Let me tell you about the Shokunin, also known as the Traveling Merchant. They are a special character in this game. When it’s your turn, you get to draw the top Souvenir card from the pile and add it to your collection. How cool is that?
Now, here’s the exciting part – you earn points based on the Souvenirs you already have. If you don’t have any Souvenirs yet, don’t worry! You still get 1 point just for adding a card to your collection. But if you already have a few Souvenirs, it gets even better. You can get 3, 5, or even 7 points, depending on the ones you already own. It’s like a reward for being a savvy traveler!
So, as you journey through the game, keep an eye out for the Shokunin. They might just bring you some awesome Souvenirs and help you rack up those points! Happy traveling!
Welcome to Annaibito (Guide)
When you begin a panorama, you’ll draw a value 1 card of the corresponding type. If you’ve already started a panorama, you’ll draw the next number in ascending order.
If you complete a panorama, you can choose to start a new one or add to an existing one of your choosing. You’ll earn points for the Panorama card just like normal.
Samurai
Boom! You just earned yourself 3 points!
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Kuge (Noble)
Guess what? As soon as you earn this title, you get to grab three shiny coins from the reserve and add them to your bank! How cool is that? Talk about a nice little bonus. It’s like finding money on the ground, but way more exciting because it’s part of your well-earned reward. So go ahead and embrace your noble status – it’s the gift that keeps on giving!
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Welcome to the World of Miko
Hey there! I’m here to introduce you to the fascinating game of Miko, where you’ll become a Shinto priest and embark on an exciting adventure. Let’s dive in!
First things first, as a Miko, you have a special role. It’s your job to visit the Temple and make offerings. So, to start off, grab a coin from the bank and place it in the Temple. Make sure to choose the area that matches your color.
By making this offering, you earn yourself a nice point. It’s a small step, but every point counts when it comes to scoring big and winning the game!
Important Rest Stops for Travelers
Let me tell you about these unique places called Inns. You’re going to love them!
Inns are special locations that every Traveler must visit on their journey.
Why are they so special? Well, Inns are where you can buy Meal cards. These cards come in three different prices: 1 coin, 2 coins, or 3 coins. And guess what? All of them give you a whopping 6 victory points!
Welcome to the Inn
So, you’ve arrived at an Inn. Exciting, right? Now let’s talk about how to make the most of your time here.
The Inns, a must-visit for all travelers, are fantastic places to enjoy a well-deserved meal and try out local food specialties.
Each traveler is required to make a stop at all 4 Inns on the way to Edo, so naturally, the Inn spaces can accommodate all the travelers at once.
These Inn spaces are marked in red on the board.
The order in which players arrive at an Inn is crucial.
The first traveler takes the space closest to the road, and the later travelers form a line behind them.
When the first traveler reaches an Inn, they draw a number of Meal cards equal to the number of players, plus one. (For example, in a 3-player game, they draw 4 cards).
They can look at these cards without revealing them to others.
Then, they have the option to purchase one Meal card of their choice by paying the price (1, 2, or 3 coins) displayed on the card.
When I play the game, I take a card from the deck and add it to my collection. The value of each card is 6 points, and I score those points right away. After that, I have to wait for the other players to arrive at the Inn. They might want to buy one of the leftover cards.
The order in which the players arrive at the Inn matters. The first player has more options to choose from than the last player.
- I can’t eat the same food again during my journey.
- I can only buy one card per Inn.
- I’m not required to buy anything.
Let’s keep going!
Once everyone has had a chance to try the local cuisine, we can continue our journey:
- Put the Meal cards that haven’t been bought at the bottom of the right pile.
- The traveler who is farthest from the Inn goes next and starts traveling again.
Ending the Game
The game ends when all Travelers have reached the last Inn in Edo.
Award the achievement cards (Gourmet, Collector, Bather, Chatterbox) to the Travelers who earned them.
The Travelers also get extra points based on their rank as donors to the Temple:
- If you’re the most generous donor, you get 10 points.
- The second most generous donor scores 7 points.
- The third most generous donor scores 4 points.
- All other donors get 2 points.
If there’s a tie, all the tied players get points based on that rank. For example, if two players tie for first place, they both get 10 points.
If you haven’t donated any coins to the Temple, you don’t get any points.
The player with the most points wins the game. If there’s a tie, the tied player with the most achievement cards wins.
In Tokaido, you score Journey points throughout the game. But don’t worry if you think you made a mistake, you can check your points again at the end.