#tokaido

Got some new (to me) games. These two are Japan themed. Tokaido might be a little too light and cozy but I'll wait until I play with more people to decide. Loved Kanagawa though!

Stonemaier Games is one of the most respected publishers in the tabletop industry, and their website serves as a central hub for discovering their games, learning about their design philosophy, and interacting with the community. The site is user-friendly and offers clear, in-depth information on each of their titles, including rulebooks, gameplay videos, and reviews. It also features a blog with useful insights into game design and crowdfunding, making it a great resource for aspiring designers. The company is known for emphasizing accessibility, replicability, and high-quality components in their games, and their website reflects these values, often providing detailed breakdowns of how their games are developed. Additionally, Stonemaier has a strong community engagement aspect, with responsive customer support and a focus on listening to player feedback to improve their games. However, while the site is well-designed, some users find it a bit overwhelming, especially newcomers who may struggle to navigate the extensive catalogue. It could also benefit from more direct comparisons between games, which would help players quickly identify which game best fits their preferences, given Stonemaier's wide range of themes and mechanics.

Stonemaier Games is behind several standout titles, each offering unique gameplay experiences. For example, Apiary is a charming, lighter strategic game where players manage a beehive, collecting nectar and breeding bees. Its simple mechanics make it accessible to casual gamers, though it can feel a bit repetitive for those seeking deeper complexity. On the other hand, Vantage is a more tactical game where players build cities on a modular board, competing for resources and managing their economy. Its modular nature makes it highly replay able, but its competitive gameplay may not appeal to those who prefer solo or less interactive experiences. Then there's Tapestry, a civilization-building game that allows players to advance through various eras using a unique tech tree. The game’s stunning visuals and wide range of strategies make it a hit for fans of strategic depth, though some have noted that it can feel unbalanced at times, with certain strategies being much stronger than others. Finally, Tokaido stands out as a more relaxed, accessible game where players take on the role of travellers journeying across Japan, collecting experiences along the way. Its peaceful gameplay and beautiful design make it ideal for casual gamers, but some might find the game too passive or luck-dependent, as player progression is somewhat dictated by movement order on the board.

In terms of the Stonemaier Games website, there are several positives and a few areas for improvement. One of its biggest strengths is the clear and detailed information available for each game, which is perfect for players looking to dive into a new title. The rulebooks, videos, and customer reviews provide a comprehensive understanding of what to expect from each game, while the blog offers invaluable insights into game design and crowdfunding, great for aspiring creators. However, the website can be overwhelming for newcomers, especially those unfamiliar with Stonemaier’s catalogue. It’s a treasure trove of information, but the sheer volume of details might make it difficult to quickly determine which game best suits a player’s interests. Additionally, while the site provides ample details about each game, it could benefit from more direct comparisons to help visitors understand how different games within Stonemaier’s catalogue stack up against one another.

It was the country’s main tourist attraction, even though tourism was kind of illegal.

It was the subject of famous and popular works of art.

In many ways, it played an important role in building Japan’s modern identity.

Japan’s history is deeply connected to its roads, which once served as vital arteries for trade, travel, and communication. During the Edo period (1603–1868), the Tokugawa shogunate developed an extensive network of highways, the most famous of which were the Five Routes, or Gokaido. These roads connected Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to different parts of the country, ensuring the movement of people…

Once people had finished eating, the group settled down to play. There was quite lot interest in the “Feature Game” which was Finspan, a fish-themed version of one of the group’s favourite games, Wingspan.  It is advertised as shorter and lighter than the original, but in the event it was only slightly shorter and not much lighter though it was generally agreed to be a bit smoother and therefore…

i could not find a catalogue of the works that included images of them all. even ukiyo-e.org did not have them organized together, so i complied a list myself. here are links to images of each of the prints, in order of the tokaido highway from tokyo to kyoto. the links to ukiyo-e.org will take you to a page that also links the source of the image, so you could probably track the location of the physical prints as well if you are interested. some prints were not accessible via ukiyo-e.org, so i tracked down other images.

sorry the links are not active, you can just copy paste them into safari, or check out my substack for a version with active links:

nihon bashi: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221398

shinagawa: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc158746

kawasaki: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221365

kanagawa: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221393

hodogaya: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221394

totsuka: https://www.hotei-japanese-prints.com/new/prints-item/1904/stockno-24-037/Theme2/8/Keisai_Eisen_渓斎英泉_(1790-1848)?p=prints

fujisawa: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc179554

hiratsuka: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221366

oiso: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mak/17430-9

odawara: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221367

hakone: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221364

mishima: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc158768

numazu: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221353

hara: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mak/17430-3

yoshiwara: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc158714

kanbara: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc158743

yui: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc158744

okitsu: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/famsf/5050161212680045

ejiri: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221357

fuchu: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221348

mariko: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mak/17430-21

okabe: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/artelino/50690g1

fujieda: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mak/17430-4

shimada: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221381

kanaya: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221397

nissaka: https://www.roningallery.com/Kanbara-The-Courtesan-Kahoyo?srsltid=AfmBOoorpab2fOh1G1vZr_dicFE-n6OUBCuXK6y5SoAyJW05bYVxP2K_

kakegawa: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221396

fukuroi: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221372

mitsuke: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221390

hamamatsu: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mak/17430-12

maisaka: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc158770

arai: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221373

shirasuka: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221374

futagawa: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221361

yoshida: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc158741

goyu: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221379

akasaka: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc158782

fujikawa: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221387

okazaki: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221354

chiryu: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/harashobo/17085_3

narumi: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc158780

miya: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221368

kuwana: https://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/art/exhibitions/exhibition-archive/2023/a-celebration-of-japanese-fashion/

yokkaichi: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221392

ishiyakushi: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc158747

shono: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221375

kameyama: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mak/17430-6

seki: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221380

sakashita: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mak/17430-7

tsuchiyama: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc158776

minakuchi: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221384

ishibe: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc221349

otsu: https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc158769