18671867–1868 · Kyoto

Meiji Restoration

Nijo Castle in Kyoto, where the last shogun surrendered power in 1867, seen from across its moat — Photo: Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France. CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In October 1867 the last Tokugawa shogun, Yoshinobu, announced at Nijo Castle in Kyoto that he was returning governing power to the emperor. In January 1868 a coalition of southern domains defeated shogunate forces at Toba-Fushimi, south of the city, and the young Emperor Meiji later moved to Tokyo. The new government abolished the samurai class and industrialised Japan within a generation.

Political History
Royalty & Monarchy
Revolutions & Resistance
Kyoto, Japan

Sites

Site 1: Nijo CastleNinomaru Palace hall where the return of power was announced.Map ↗
Site 2: Kyoto Imperial PalacePalace where imperial rule was proclaimed restored in January 1868.Map ↗