
- BGG rank
- BGG #452
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Abyss
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2014

Rules assistance for Kanagawa: Yokai
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.
Kanagawa: Yokai is an expansion for Kanagawa released in 2019 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Bruno Cathala and Charles Chevallier and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Push Your Luck.
Kanagawa: Yokai includes cards and scoring elements for three new elements — kites, parasols, and paper lanterns — and to use them, you replace any two elements in the Kanagawa base game with two new elements. Some of the cards in this expansion include a yokaï symbol that is visible whether you place the card in your painting or in your studio. When you place such a card, you take a yokaï marker from the reserve or from another player, and if you collect all three such markers, you receive a reward. You hope that someone else will claim them later, though, because players with yokaï markers at the end of the game lose points.
Kanagawa: Yokai 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 Kanagawa: Yokai is 45 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 Kanagawa: Yokai 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.
Kanagawa: Yokai has a complexity rating of 1.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Kanagawa: Yokai belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Push Your Luck. 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 Kanagawa: Yokai are: Bruno Cathala and Charles Chevallier. 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 Kanagawa: Yokai as an expansion for Kanagawa. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Kanagawa to use it. Check that your edition of Kanagawa is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.