From Japanese castles to Canadian sawmills, discover where two epic Shōgun adaptations brought feudal Japan to life – 44 years apart.
Imagine watching the same epic story unfold in two completely different worlds.
One drops you into actual Japanese castles with the legendary Toshiro Mifune glaring at you like he’s about to slice your head off. The other builds feudal Japan from scratch in Canadian sawmills because a global pandemic had other plans.
Welcome to the tale of two Shōgun adaptations – separated by 44 years, thousands of miles, and 18 Emmy wins. James Clavell‘s 1975 doorstop of a novel – all 400,000 words of political scheming and culture clash – has been brought to life twice.
The 1980 Shōgun miniseries was a cultural earthquake, drawing tens of millions of viewers and becoming the only American TV production ever filmed entirely in Japan.
Richard Chamberlain, the “King of the Miniseries,” became John Blackthorne, while Toshiro Mifune (from Seven Samurai) brought Lord Toranaga to life with divine impatience.
Fast forward to 2024, and FX’s Shōgun adaptation did something the 1980 version never could – it embraced the Japanese language from the inside out.
Most dialogue is in Japanese with subtitles, Hiroyuki Sanada served as both star and cultural authenticity czar, and the show won a record-shattering 18 Emmys. The twist? It was filmed in Canada. Because COVID-19 said so.
So grab your katana, practice your best “I am a hatamoto” face, and let’s explore where these two epics were filmed.
Table of Contents
⚔️ Shōgun Filming Locations: Japan (1980) vs Canada (2024)
From the castles of Kyoto to the coastlines of Canada, here’s exactly where two generations of samurai epics brought feudal Japan to life.
🗾 Where Was Shōgun (1980) Filmed?
The Shōgun (1980) miniseries remains the only American television production to film entirely on location in Japan.
The UNESCO-protected Himeji Castle, known as the “White Heron,” doubled as Osaka Castle. Its jaw-dropping white walls and lethal defenses were the ultimate backdrop for Clavell‘s power struggles. It’s survived WWII bombs, earthquakes, and Richard Chamberlain‘s wig.
One of Japan‘s few surviving original castles, Hikone Castle stood in for Toranaga‘s fortress. You can practically hear Mifune‘s divine impatience echoing through its ancient halls.
The remote fishing village of Nagashima transformed into Anjiro’s rugged shores. The location was so isolated that lodging logistics nearly broke production. On the final day of shooting, a typhoon obliterated the entire set.
Richard Chamberlain brought romantic heroism to Blackthorne. Toshiro Mifune – the definitive screen samurai from Kurosawa‘s classics – gave Toranaga unmatched gravitas.
Yoko Shimada delivered a heartbreaking, Golden Globe-winning performance as Mariko despite learning her lines phonetically. John Rhys-Davies, before he was Gimli, brought swagger to Pilot Rodrigues.
Blackthorne‘s European vessel was the Golden Hinde – a fully functional replica of Sir Francis Drake’s actual ship. Shochiku and Daiei-Kyoto Studios built the interior rooms, tea houses, and palace halls where the miniseries’ most intimate moments unfolded.
The original NBC broadcast intentionally left Japanese dialogue unsubtitled so audiences could experience Blackthorne’s isolation. Orson Welles provided narration – and sometimes did impressions of the Japanese characters while translating.
Shōgun (1980) filming locations:
- Himeji Castle: Osaka Castle’s iconic white walls.
- Hikone Castle: Toranaga‘s ancient fortress stronghold.
- Nagashima: Blackthorne‘s shipwreck at Anjiro.
- Kyoto Studios: Interior palace and tea house scenes.
🍁 Where Was Shōgun (2024) Filmed?
The FX Shōgun (2024) series was filmed almost entirely in British Columbia, Canada, after COVID-19 forced the production to pivot from Japan.
The abandoned Flavelle Sawmill in Port Moody transformed into Osaka Harbor. The crew built a massive replica complete with a medieval Japanese village and castle walls.
Japanese cast members did double-takes at the resemblance. After wrapping, the crew planted a Japanese White Pine at Port Moody City Hall as a gesture of gratitude.
Wya Point Beach in Ucluelet, chosen for its uncanny resemblance to Japan‘s coastline, provided the untamed coastlines for Blackthorne‘s shipwreck and Ajiro village. The misty cliffs and deep tide pools captured the alien wonder of his arrival perfectly.
The Swiss Canadian Mountain Range Association grounds in Coquitlam – essentially a gravel parking lot – transformed into Upper Ajiro Village. The forested mountainside became a feudal Japanese hamlet.
Minaty Bay, a secluded cove along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, served as the hiding spot for Blackthorne’s ship, the Erasmus. The beach looked nothing like Japan until the production team worked their magic.
A solitary sequence of Lord Toranaga riding his horse was filmed in London in 2019. FX risked losing the rights to the adaptation, so shooting this single scene helped the studio retain them while writers worked on scripts. Talk about a high-stakes horse ride!
A second-unit crew captured establishing shots in Japan, later blended with Canadian sets via VFX. Authentic fabrics, armor, and props were also imported for historical accuracy.
Burnaby soundstages and Burnaby Mountain Park hosted the show’s most intimate scenes. Vancouver studios provided controlled environments where whispers meant life or death. FX’s most expensive production – but worth every Emmy-winning penny.
Hiroyuki Sanada starred as Toranaga and produced with full cultural control, Cosmo Jarvis played a rougher Blackthorne, Anna Sawai brought more depth to Mariko, and Tadanobu Asano made Yabushige more tragic than the book’s cartoonish villain.
Unlike the 1980 version, the climax focuses on quiet strategy rather than the battle itself.
Shōgun (2024) filming locations:
- Port Moody: Osaka Harbor and castle walls.
- Ucluelet: Shipwreck and Ajiro village.
- Coquitlam: Upper Ajiro Village.
- Minaty Bay: Erasmus ship hiding spot.
- London: Toranaga’s horse-riding scene.
- Japan: Establishing shots for VFX.
- Burnaby & Vancouver: Studio and indoor scenes.
❓ Shōgun FAQs
Got questions about the samurai, the shipwreck, and everything in between?
What is a Shōgun?
Shōgun meaning & definition: A hereditary military dictator who ruled Japan from 1192 to 1867, while the Emperor remained a ceremonial figurehead.
The full title, Seii Taishōgun, means “barbarian-subduing generalissimo.” The first shōgun, Minamoto no Yoritomo, established the bakufu (“tent government”) that controlled foreign policy, the military, and feudal patronage.
Who wrote the Shōgun book?
James Clavell’s Shōgun novel was written in 1975 as part of his Asian Saga. A WWII POW in a Japanese camp, his fascination with Japanese culture informed his meticulous research.
What is the plot of the Shōgun novel?
In the Shōgun novel, English pilot John Blackthorne shipwrecks in 1600 Japan, becomes embroiled in a feudal power struggle, and helps Lord Toranaga defeat his rivals while rising to samurai status and falling for translator Lady Mariko.
Is Shōgun based on a true story?
Yes and no. It fictionalizes real historical figures (Toranaga = Tokugawa Ieyasu, Blackthorne = William Adams, Mariko = Hosokawa Gracia) from the Battle of Sekigahara, but the events are dramatized.
Where was Shōgun filmed in Japan?
The Shōgun (1980) miniseries was filmed entirely on location in Japan, using Himeji Castle, Hikone Castle, Nagashima, and Kyoto Studios.
Where was Shōgun filmed in 2024?
The 2024 FX series was filmed primarily in British Columbia, Canada at Port Moody, Ucluelet, Coquitlam, Minaty Bay, and Burnaby, with one scene in London and establishing shots in Japan.
How does the 1980 miniseries differ from the 2024 series?
Shōgun (1980) centers on Blackthorne, uses English voiceover, was filmed in Japan, and is a romantic adventure epic. Shōgun (2024) is a gritty political thriller in Japanese with subtitles, filmed in Canada.
Shōgun cast & characters?
- Toshiro Mifune: Lord Toranaga (1980) – Legendary screen samurai.
- Hiroyuki Sanada: Lord Yoshii Toranaga (2024) – Patient feudal lord.
- Richard Chamberlain: John Blackthorne (1980) – Classic hero.
- Cosmo Jarvis: John Blackthorne (2024) – Shipwrecked English pilot.
- Yoko Shimada: Lady Mariko (1980) – Golden Globe-winning performance.
- Anna Sawai: Toda Mariko (2024) – Translator torn by duty.
- Frankie Sakai: Kashigi Yabu (1980) – Scheming warlord.
- Tadanobu Asano: Kashigi Yabushige (2024) – Scheming warlord.
- Atsuko Sano: Lady Ochiba (1980) – Lady of the realm.
- Fumi Nikaido: Lady Ochiba (2024) – Fierce mother of the heir.
- John Rhys-Davies: Pilot Rodrigues (1980) – Swaggering rival-turned-friend.
- Takehiro Hira: Ishido Kazunari (2024) – Toranaga’s bureaucratic rival.
Will there be a Shōgun Season 2?
Yes! Production for FX’s Shōgun Season 2 began January 2026 in Vancouver, with Sanada and Jarvis returning. Mariko won’t return after her Season 1 death. The season jumps forward a decade, exploring Toranaga‘s unified Japan and introducing fresh conflicts.
📺 Where to Watch Shōgun
Ready to see where it all unfolds? Here’s where you can watch both epic adaptations.
Where to watch Shōgun (1980):
Where to watch Shōgun (2024): Hulu & Disney+
Two epics, two countries, one unforgettable story – proof that whether you build it in Japan or dream it in Canada, the heart of Shōgun always finds its way home.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
- Where Was Shōgun Filmed? 1980 vs 2024 - June 29, 2026
- Where Was The Last Showgirl Filmed? Las Vegas, Unfiltered - June 27, 2026
- Where Was Kingsman Filmed? Ultimate Spy Location Guide - June 26, 2026
Discover more from Ahoy Matey Blog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.