Discovering Shogun's Filming Locations: A Global Journey Behind the Scenes

Hulu and FX's television show Shōgun is based on a fictionalized version of historical events during the late Sengoku period in Japan. However, the majority of the filming for Shōgun did not actually take place in Japan. Created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, the 2024 historical drama limited series is the second television adaptation of James Clavell's 1975 book, consisting of ten episodes. The first two episodes premiered on February 27, 2024, and the story follows the interactions between John Blackthorne, Lord Toranaga, and Lady Mariko.

The cast of Shōgun includes Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Toranaga, Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne, Anna Sawai as Lady Mariko, and other actors playing characters inspired by real historical figures. Originally scheduled to begin filming in 2019, production of the FX limited series faced delays. Ultimately, principal photography began in late 2021 and concluded in June 2022, with scenes being shot in multiple countries worldwide.

Japan

Anna Sawai as Lady Mariko in Shogun - Japan

According to The Cinemaholic, the production team for Shōgun incorporated numerous exterior shots of Japan into the ten episodes, despite the majority of filming taking place elsewhere. With the historical drama set in Japan, it was only fitting to include scenes of the island nation. Establishing shots of Japanese landscapes and locations were captured to add authenticity to the series, as it would have been difficult to recreate these settings elsewhere.

In addition to Japan, England served as another minor filming location for Shōgun, with only one scene being filmed in London by the cast and crew.

Due to various delays, the filming of Shōgun was relocated from Japan to London, England.

John Blackthorne standing in front of Lord Toranaga in Shogun episode 2 - London, England

Similar to Japan, England served as a minor filming location for Shōgun, where the cast and crew filmed a single scene in London. Hiroyuki Sanada, portraying Lord Yoshii Toranaga, along with some crew members, traveled to London to shoot a sequence. The scene featured Sanada's character riding on a horse near a fire.

The moment was captured in 2019 when the network faced the risk of losing rights to Shōgun due to prolonged pre-production. Filming Sanada's brief scene played a crucial role in enabling the studio to maintain the rights for adapting James Clavell's book, as the writers focused on developing new scripts. As a result, the majority of scenes in the FX historical drama limited series were filmed in a location outside of Europe and Asia — specifically, North America.

Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada

Hiromatsu and young samurai standing together in Shogun - Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada

In an interview with CTV News, producer Erin Smith disclosed that the majority of Shōgun was filmed in Canada. Ucluelet and Port Moody in British Columbia served as the main locations where the cast and crew were predominantly based during the filming process. Smith provided further insight into the filming locations.

Wya Point Beach in Ucluelet was chosen as the setting for the opening sequence of Shōgun, as revealed by Smith. Ucluelet, located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, served as an ideal substitute for Japan in the FX limited series. The municipality's coastal position and picturesque beaches and forests made it a fitting location for the show. Japanese cast and crew members were particularly taken aback by the striking resemblance of Ucluelet to their homeland, as shared by Smith in her interview with CTV News. However, filming on an island did present some challenges, primarily in terms of location accessibility.

Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada

A closeup of Mariko in Shogun - Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada

The cast and crew of Shōgun also utilized Port Moody, a municipality in the Metro Vancouver Regional District, for filming numerous scenes. Various sets were constructed in the city that closely resembled Japan, making Port Moody a key location for the historical drama limited series.

Shōgun has achieved a perfect 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Vancouver's accessibility to impressive studios and picturesque landscapes has made it a popular destination for numerous movie and television productions. The Osaka Castle scenes were most likely filmed in a studio in Vancouver, showcasing the city's versatility for creating diverse settings. It comes as no surprise that the producers of Shōgun selected Port Moody as one of the show's key locations for principal photography, further solidifying Vancouver's reputation in the entertainment industry.

Sources: The Cinemaholic, CTV News

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an insightful glimpse into the production of the historical drama "Shōgun," revealing the fascinating locations where the series was filmed. It's intriguing to learn that the majority of the filming took place outside of Japan, despite the show's predominantly Japanese setting. The use of various locations around the world, including Canada and England, demonstrates the complexities of capturing the essence of a historical period and the challenges faced by the production team.

The article highlights the importance of authenticity in historical dramas, as seen in the inclusion of establishing shots of Japan to enhance the believability of the series. The fact that Japanese cast and crew members were impressed by the resemblance of Ucluelet, Canada, to their homeland speaks to the commitment to creating a realistic and immersive experience for viewers. The filming locations played a vital role in bringing the story to life and transporting audiences to a different time and place.