Shogunate Japan timeline.

1867 BCE

The last shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu, steps down and hands power back to the imperial family under Emperor Meiji.
1854 BCE

The Convention of Kanagawa puts an end to the policy of sakoku; Japan opens up trade with the United States.
1853 BCE

Commodore Matthew Perry, a US naval officer, arrives in the city of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to persuade the Japanese to open their borders to trade.
1724 BCE

Timber harvesting in Japan has now been reduced by 60 per cent; it remains at low levels for the next 30 years, allowing Japan’s forests to recover.
1666 BCE

A policy is introduced to reduce logging and increase the planting of trees; only the shogun and his daimyo are able to authorise the use of wood.
1633 BCE

Tokugawa lemitsu introduces a policy known as saikoku (meaning ‘locked country’);under the policy, no Japanese people are permitted to leave Japan and no foreigners are allowed to enter; the policy remains in effect until around 1853.
1603 BCE

Tokugawa leyasu becomes shogun and establishes a base in the city to Edo (modern-day Tokyo); the Tokugawa shogunate rules Japan for the next 260 years.
Period: 1603 BCE to 1867 BCE

Tokugawa (or Edo) period
1598 BCE

William Adams, a sailor and navigator, becomes the first Englishman to visit Japan; he befriends Tokugawa leyasu (a future shogun) and later becomes a key advisor to him.
Period: 1573 BCE to 1603 BCE

Azuchi-Momoyama period
1467 BCE

A period of civil war, known as the Warning States period, begins in Japan between rival warlords; it lasts for around 100 years.
1337 BCE

Ashikaga Takauji seizes power from Emperor Go-Daigo to become the new shogun.
Period: 1337 BCE to 1573 BCE

Muromachi period
1333 BCE

Emperor Go-Daigo overthrows the Kamakura shogunate, and takes back power from the shogun.
1281 BCE

The Mongol army launches a second attack on Japan, landing once again on the island of Kyushu; for the second time a typhoon hits destroying almost all Mongol.
1274 BCE

The Mongol army launches an attack on Japan, landing on the island of Kyushu; a typhoon destroys many of their ships and the invasion fails.
1185 BCE

The Minamoto clan seizes power from the emperor; Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes shogun and establishes his own capital city in Kamakura; with support from daimyo (lords) and samurai (warriors) a series of shoguns rules Japan for the next 700 years.
Period: 1185 BCE to 1333 BCE

Kamakura period
794 BCE

Under orders from Emperor Kammu, the capital of Japan moves to the city of Helan-Kyo (modern-day Kyoto); it remains the official capital of Japan for the next 1000 years.
Period: 794 BCE to 1185 BCE

Heian period
Period: 710 BCE to 794 BCE

Nara period

The last shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu, steps down and hands power back to the imperial family under Emperor Meiji.

The Convention of Kanagawa puts an end to the policy of sakoku; Japan opens up trade with the United States.

Commodore Matthew Perry, a US naval officer, arrives in the city of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to persuade the Japanese to open their borders to trade.

Timber harvesting in Japan has now been reduced by 60 per cent; it remains at low levels for the next 30 years, allowing Japan’s forests to recover.

A policy is introduced to reduce logging and increase the planting of trees; only the shogun and his daimyo are able to authorise the use of wood.

Tokugawa lemitsu introduces a policy known as saikoku (meaning ‘locked country’);under the policy, no Japanese people are permitted to leave Japan and no foreigners are allowed to enter; the policy remains in effect until around 1853.

Tokugawa leyasu becomes shogun and establishes a base in the city to Edo (modern-day Tokyo); the Tokugawa shogunate rules Japan for the next 260 years.

Tokugawa (or Edo) period

William Adams, a sailor and navigator, becomes the first Englishman to visit Japan; he befriends Tokugawa leyasu (a future shogun) and later becomes a key advisor to him.

Azuchi-Momoyama period

A period of civil war, known as the Warning States period, begins in Japan between rival warlords; it lasts for around 100 years.

Ashikaga Takauji seizes power from Emperor Go-Daigo to become the new shogun.

Muromachi period

Emperor Go-Daigo overthrows the Kamakura shogunate, and takes back power from the shogun.

The Mongol army launches a second attack on Japan, landing once again on the island of Kyushu; for the second time a typhoon hits destroying almost all Mongol.

The Mongol army launches an attack on Japan, landing on the island of Kyushu; a typhoon destroys many of their ships and the invasion fails.

The Minamoto clan seizes power from the emperor; Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes shogun and establishes his own capital city in Kamakura; with support from daimyo (lords) and samurai (warriors) a series of shoguns rules Japan for the next 700 years.

Kamakura period

Under orders from Emperor Kammu, the capital of Japan moves to the city of Helan-Kyo (modern-day Kyoto); it remains the official capital of Japan for the next 1000 years.

Heian period

Nara period