Photo: Contiki
Table of Contents
From the makers of the stressful chef drama The Bear comes Shōgun: an epic historical drama set in 1600s Japan based on the James Clavell novel of the same name. Think impressive katanas, horse-back battles, and all the beautiful settings of traditional palaces and temples, surrounded by lush greenery. Well, add a little, or a lot, more grit to that.
If you’re intrigued by the history element or just stunned by the backdrops, come with us to discover the Shōgun filming locations.
Where was Shōgun filmed?
Despite the very realistic set pieces of feudal Japan, Shōgun was not actually shot on location there. So, where was Shōgun actually filmed? Canada!
Why isn’t Shōgun filmed in Japan?
This is not because the crew did not want to shoot in Japan, but complications because of Covid-19 and subsequent delays forced the crew to find an alternative destination.
Port Moody and Ucleulet, Canada
Located not far from Vancouver in Canada’s British Columbia, it’s here in Port Moody and Ucleulet that most of Shōgun’s filming took place. Though separated by the Pacific Ocean, the cast and crew were pleasantly surprised to discover that most of the western Canadian natural beauty bears striking resemblance to Japan’s!
Of course, many items from Japan were brought over to Canada in order to make the sets as authentic as possible. In fact, it’s reported that a Japanese pine tree was also imported and planted in the local area as a thank you to the community for their time spent filming – how sweet!
Image source:Priscilla du Preez / unsplash
London, England
The cast and crew of Shōgun also found themselves across the pond for filming. Or, more accurately, only a small portion of the cast and crew, as England’s capital city was only used to shoot one sequence! The sequence in question is one of Lord Yoshii Toranaga (the series’ main character) riding on a horse by a fire. That’s it – and I guess they needed the majesty of London to bring it to life!
Japan
While no actual filming took place in Japan with the cast and crew, shots of exteriors used throughout the series were captured there. Establishing shots of the landscape were used in post-editing to really cement the show’s setting.
Image source:Contiki
What is the Osaka Castle in Shōgun?
Within the historical context of Shōgun, Osaka Castle is an important landmark and it is the seat of power and the Taikō’s home, and is a symbol of Japan’s might.
For the show, Osaka Castle was built on sets with intricate screen doors and wooden latticework, expertly painted to represent design of that era.
Where was the village in Shōgun?
In the show, where the story begins, the village is Ajiro which is located on the eastern Pacific coast of Japan. It’s based on a real fishing town in the Izu Peninsula – but the filming of this location was done in the aforementioned Port Moody and Ucluelet in Canada.
Want to visit feudal Japan?
Well, unless you have a time machine, your options are limited. But lucky for you, many of Japan’s beautiful and historic palaces and temples remain as important pieces of the country’s history and are preserved for visitations or simple admiration. These are some of the best palaces and temples to visit in Japan:
- Osaka Castle, Osaka
- Himeji Castle, Himeji
- Shurijō Castle, Shuri
- Nagoya Castle, Nagoya
- Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto
- Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto
- Sensō-ji, Tokyo
- To-ji, Kyoto
