Britannica Sources used in this answer

How long did the Tokugawa shogunate rule Japan?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu in ornate robes holding a bow, with arrows on his back, at the Tosho-gu shrine in Nikko, Japan. — Tokugawa Ieyasu Statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Tōshō Shrine in Nikkō, Japan.

The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the Edo shogunate, ruled Japan for 264 years, from 1603 to 1867.123

Founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu, this period was characterized by internal peace, political stability, and economic growth under a centralized military government headquartered in Edo (modern-day Tokyo). The regime maintained control through a strict social hierarchy and a policy of national seclusion known as sakoku, which limited foreign influence. The shogunate eventually fell in 1867 when the last shogun, Yoshinobu, yielded power, leading to the Meiji Restoration and the reestablishment of imperial rule.134