
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,888
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Stone Garden
- 2–4 players
- 75 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2014

Rules assistance for IKI: Akebono
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
IKI: Akebono is an expansion for IKI released in 2023 for 2–4 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Koota Yamada and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Point to Point Movement, and Pattern Building.
IKI: Akebono introduces a new location to discover in Edo: the bridge of Nihonbashi, which expands the main street and offers players new opportunities. Players can stop at the bridge to meet famous personalities from the Edo era (like Hokusai Katsushika, Sanyo Rai or Tokunai Mogami) and to trade with the ships (built by the players) in the river. The Akebono expansion also adds new character cards, building cards, and new pipe, tobacco, and fish tokens for more strategic depth and decision making.
IKI: Akebono supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for IKI: Akebono is 60–90 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists IKI: Akebono for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
IKI: Akebono has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
IKI: Akebono belongs to these categories: Medieval and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Point to Point Movement, and Pattern Building. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of IKI: Akebono are: Koota Yamada. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists IKI: Akebono as an expansion for IKI. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need IKI to use it. Check that your edition of IKI is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.