- BGG rank
- BGG #23,085
- BGG rating
- 6.1
From Batavia
- 2–6 players
- 40 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,840
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Kaigan
2009
Rules assistance for Kaigan
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–4 players
- 90 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.9/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Kaigan
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kaigan is a board game released in 2009 for 3–4 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Kenichi Tanabe and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Area Majority / Influence, and Action Points.
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About the game
In 1800, at 55 years of age, Tadataka Ino started his journey to make the first scale map of Japan's coast (Kaigan) using modern surveying techniques. His project lasted 21 years and resulted in a 1:36000 scale map that remained the definitive map of Japan for over a century. Ino's work brought renown not only to himself, but to Japan as well. In Kaigan, the players, overseeing teams of surveyors, compete against each other to map the coast of Japan. During the game, the players will generate income by improving their artistic skills and developing relationships with local governments. Using this money, the players will dispatch their surveyors around the island of Japan in an effort to map its different regions. After 5 rounds, representing the 21 years it took to complete Tadataka Ino's map, the player who has traveled the farthest and contributed the most to mapping Japan will gain the most honor and will win the game.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Ascora Games
- Takamagahara
Questions and answers
Kaigan supports 3–4 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 Kaigan is 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 Kaigan for ages 12 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.
Kaigan has a complexity rating of 2.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light 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.
Kaigan belongs to these categories: Travel. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Area Majority / Influence, and Action Points. 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 Kaigan are: Kenichi Tanabe. 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 Kaigan as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.