Unique Ability
Meiji Restoration: districts get a full +1 adjacency bonus for every adjacent district, instead of the usual +0.5 — the strongest version of the "minor bonus" adjacency rule in the game.
Japan
Japan is one of the most beginner-friendly civilizations in the game, and remains a top pick well into advanced play thanks to a district adjacency bonus that applies everywhere, not just from specific terrain.
Unique Unit: Samurai
A Medieval era melee unit replacing the Man-at-Arms that does not suffer the usual combat penalty when damaged, making it unusually durable through a prolonged fight.
Unique Infrastructure: Electronics Factory
A unique Factory replacement providing +4 Production to its own city and +4 Production to every other friendly city within 6 tiles, plus a Great Engineer point per turn once built.
How to Play Japan
- Cluster districts close together — Japan gets full adjacency value that other civilizations can only get from specific terrain or a Government Plaza.
- This flexibility means Japan can pursue almost any victory type effectively; pick based on your map rather than the civilization.
- Coastal cities benefit especially well under Hojo Tokimune specifically, since Divine Wind's combat bonus stacks with the district adjacency from Harbors.
Related Guides
Browse more civilizations
See the full civilization database, or find a nation that matches how you like to play.
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