Tokaido: Crossroads & Matsuri Expansion Board Game Review
- Jim Gamer
- Oct 20
- 5 min read
WBG Score: 9
Player Count: 1-5
You’ll like this if you like: Adding extra choices without complexity to the base game
Published by: Stonemaier Games
Designed by: Antoine Bauza
This is a free review copy. See our review policy here.
First published in 2012, Tokaido has a strong fanbase and has certainly stood the test of time. You read my thoughts on the base game here. There was then an expansion, Crossroads, that came out in 20113, and another, Matsuri, that was released in 2016. Stonemaier Games then took over the license and put out their own version of the base game, but not these two expansions. But now, have released these two great expansions in one simple box. They both offer a lot more choices without any extra complexity. It brings so much more to the table with this gorgeous game without removing the tension, adding any extra game length, or messing with what made the base game great. But it does remove the frustration from the original experience? Intrigued, read on!
What's New In This Expansion?
There are mainly two new things in this expansion, along with a few other smaller additions.
First, there are 25 new Traveler tiles. 25! Some great new options and choices for which character you play as and the power that brings.
Second, there is a new board that you add above the main board that offers a second choice for every stop along the way.
How To Set Up Tokaido: Crossroads & Matsuri
After setting up the base game, take out the new expansion board and place it above the main board. Add to it the six new decks face down, separated and placed on their matching spaces, as well as the dice into the final space on the right. There are four closed space tokens, add these next to this board. You may not use them in the game, it depends which cards come out. Finally, give each player one of the new Reference tiles, and then shuffle in the new Encounter and Traveler cards into their respective decks from the base game and you are now ready to play.
How To Play Tokaido: Crossroads & Matsuri
The game plays as usual, except that now, at every stop, there is a new second choice for each player to make. Lets go through them one by one.
Panoramas: Now, when you reach one of these spots, you can either progress in the painting linked to the location you are at, or you can take one of the new Cherry Tree cards, which instantly gives you one coin and two points. Handy if you are not targeting the paintings, or have finished that particular painting, or just need some cash!
Hot Springs: Your second choice here now is to take one of the Bathhouse cards, which awards four points every time. It will count as a Hot Spring card for the Bather achievement.
Farms: This is an interesting one. You now have the option, if you can afford it, to bet two coins and then roll the dice. You can then double, triple, or even quadruple your money if you roll well! But you may also lose it all if you roll the X.
Temples: Your second option here is to pay one coin to take an Amulet card. These new cards offer powerful, rule-bending powers that you can use on later turns.
Shops: Here, you can now buy Legendary Objects. They can cost between one and three coins, but offer big powers and points!
Encounters: Your second choice here is to pay a coin to take a Calligraphy card. They offer new end-game scoring opportunities that can unexpectedly shift the final scores in a big way!
Inns: Finally, at the Inns, the first player to arrive will draw two of the new Matsuri cards. They will pick one, discard the other, then read it aloud. It will add new one-time or ongoing effects that will be relevant for all players.
Is It Fun? Tokaido: Crossroads & Matsuri Expansion Board Game Review
I like Tokaido a lot. I gave the base game a 7.5 rating. It can be a little too simple, though, and the choices a little light. And on occasion, well actually—most games can lead to some frustrating moments of getting blocked off by other players. Now, though, with every spot offering a secondary choice, missing something you really want is less frustrating. And you can no longer be forced to go to a place where you simply cannot do anything else. Turns can still be made more or less optimal by other players blocking you, of course, but the results are less catastrophic.
But aside from just removing the frustration, they also add choice and intrigue. It makes your turns feel like they are full of a lot more agency. Your strategy needs to be more fine-tuned and thought out. Simply, it makes the game a lot better. And it does so with minimal changes to the rules, setup, teach, or game length. You could simply set up and start playing with someone who knows the base game and just give them the new player reference card. That should be enough to teach them!
I love the fact that the designer and publisher decided to add in 25 new Traveler tiles too. The base game has a good selection. Ten, I believe. nd the original expansion brought 16 new tiles. So another 16 would have been nice. But no, they went for 25 new tiles! That's a lot of new choices. And some of them offer intriguing powers. I will leave you to find them out for yourself!
Pros:
A huge variety of new Traveler tiles adds tons of replayability
Fresh powers and abilities keep each game feeling different
A second choice on every spot keeps options open, and player strategy more varied
Cons:
The risk on the Farm betting option can be brutal. A swing from eight or zero coins is huge!
The addition of 25 new Traveler tiles is an impressive and generous upgrade. It expands the game’s variety far beyond what I hoped for, offering fresh combinations and new tactical challenges every time you play. The new board and cards mean every spot has a second choice, which exponentially improves the game's strategy and agency without any lag to game time or rules. An impressive feat. A near-perfect expansion for me. Certainly improves the game from a 7.5 to an 8 overall for me now, and as a standalone product, this expansion is a 9 for me, for what it brings.
