🎎 Tokaido – Mono no aware on the Boar
⭐7/10
Players: 2–5
Playtime: 45–60 min
Difficulty: Light–Medium
Game type: Journey / Set Collection
Tokaido is a story told through a board. A game that teaches you beauty lies not in rushing, but in mindful steps. Probably the only one where sometimes it pays to… stay behind. By slowing down, we open ourselves to what truly matters on the journey: marveling at the scenery, meeting people, tasting local dishes, small gestures, and short conversations that give meaning to the road.
This path really existed — the Tōkaidō Road in the 17th century connected Kyoto with Edo (today’s Tokyo). About 500 kilometers long, it had 53 stations and numerous inns. Merchants and travelers covered it on foot in about two weeks, each stop offering food, warmth, new acquaintances, or souvenirs. In the game, that historic atmosphere is palpable on every space — every move feels like a fragment of a larger story, where the road itself is the destination.
🌸 Mono no aware – the philosophy of the road
Mono no aware is a Japanese concept of the fleeting beauty of a moment and the awareness that nothing lasts forever. It is both a gentle sadness and deep gratitude — sadness that the moment will pass, gratitude that it happened at all. It has appeared in Japanese literature, painting, and theater for centuries, and in Tokaido it permeates every move. You know your journey will end, that you won’t see everything, but precisely because of that, each choice becomes meaningful. Here, victory doesn’t go to the first to reach the finish line, but to the one who finds the most beauty along the way.
🌸 Why I like Tokaido
It’s a calm game, but not a boring one. The strategy is about sensing the right moment: sometimes you must move ahead to claim a coveted spot, other times it’s worth staying behind to gather more experiences. The winner is the one who balances planning with mindfulness.
🗺️ What do we do during the game?
Traveling from Kyoto to Edo (or back, in the return route variant), you stop at various points:
Panoramas – slowly complete views of sea, mountains, and rice fields. Each piece brings you closer to a full illustration, and finishing it is deeply satisfying.
Villages – buy souvenirs, ideally from different categories, to gain more points and enrich your journey.
Hot springs – a moment of relaxation, points, and the sense that life flows slower.
Temples – donate offerings, which score at the end but also give a sense of belonging to something greater.
Encounters – meet samurai, guides, merchants, priestesses — each adds a new layer to your story.
Inns – taste local dishes. The rule that you can’t try the same meal twice encourages courage and openness to new flavors.
📌 Things to remember
In Tokaido, the player furthest behind always moves next. If they’re still last after moving, they go again until they pass someone. This means you may take several turns in a row, allowing flexible planning.
In the 2-player variant, a neutral traveler moves only when last. They can block key spots — a farm when you need coins, a panorama when you’re missing one piece. This touch of negative interaction spices things up.
🏆 How to win in Tokaido?
Balance points from experiences — don’t focus on one type, visit different places, as endgame bonuses often decide the winner.
Plan several moves ahead — watch where others are to secure key spaces first.
Don’t ignore temples — donations can yield big points in the final tally.
Use the “last player” advantage — sometimes it’s worth staying behind to chain multiple moves.
Manage inns carefully — without coins, you may miss meal points.
Complete panoramas — a full view means both satisfaction and bonus points.
☕ Impressions
Tokaido isn’t for everyone. You need to enjoy slow pacing and savor the journey, not just the destination. But if you give it a chance, it rewards you with serenity and quiet joy. For me, it’s a perfect evening game — ideally with tea, and friends who appreciate atmosphere.
Every playthrough is a new story, and the illustrations, board, and tiny details make me feel as if I were truly walking through old Japan. And maybe that’s the point — to forget the rush, sit by the roadside, and watch the world flow at its own rhythm.
🎯 Rating: 7/10 – While charming in mood and beautiful in design, it needs the right mindset and company to shine. For players seeking dynamic competition, it may feel too slow or lacking in interaction. But in the right setting, it can be enchanting — and for me, always a top pick for a peaceful, atmospheric evening.
📖 Full rulebook (Polish):
Instrukcja Tokaido PDF
