Top Of The Table – Tokaido

Just in time for the holidays, we’ve got a look at a perfect board game to get you through the cold months ahead.

Just in time for the holidays, we’ve got a look at a perfect board game to get you through the cold months ahead. From acclaimed board game designer, Antoine Bauza, Tokaido is a fascinating strategic board game for two to five players set in Japan several hundred years ago. Each player adopts the role of a vacationer traveling along the East Sea road, also called the Tokaido.

Along the way, players compete to have the most relaxing and enjoyable holiday trip that they can. Overlook beautiful vistas. Sit in hot springs. Buy souvenirs. Eat delicious meals. After traveling from Kyoto to Edo (modern-day Tokyo) the players count up points, and find out who had the most enviable vacation.

I love Tokaido’s spare and beautiful aesthetic, the unusual strategies it encourages (all about taking your time, rather than rushing to the finish), and the brilliant non-violent themes that nonetheless remain competitive and challenging. Tokaido has been a staple at my gaming table for months now, and here’s why.

Getting Started

Tokaido has a stunning and pared-back aesthetic, dominated by its bright white board and cards, and offset by the colorful images of Japanese travelers, tasty food, bright souvenirs, and rolling natural vistas. Artist Naiade has done a wonderful job of crafting a cohesive style. The oddly shaped board is long one way, and short up and down, depicting a linear road that connects the two great Japanese cities of the day, giving Tokaido a distinctive visual presentation on the table.

Setup is surprisingly straightforward, with some clearly marked card decks and coins to lay out on the table. If this is your first time playing, expect to spend some time learning the various icons and imagery that appear on the board and cards, as most of the game’s information is communicated through those pictures rather than through text.

Gameplay unfolds as players move from one end of the board to the other, stopping at regular intervals at inns for a pleasant meal and a night’s rest. Each player has a distinct character that suggests a strong strategy for success. For instance, the artist is in a good position to get points from stopping at beautiful panoramic views, while the old man has a better vacation if he takes the time to stop at various hot springs to rest his tired muscles.

The instruction booklet is thoughtfully configured and well written, and clear organization makes it easy to refer to in your early games as you learn what each space means and how to handle turns and actions.

[Next Page: The real life history of the Tokaido]