How to Play

Hanamikoji

2-2 players 15-15 min 7.5 Board Game Geek Rating

In this two-player game set on a famous Geisha street, players compete to win the favor of seven prestigious Geishas by collecting their preferred performance items. Through strategic speculation and calculated risks, you must outmaneuver your opponent to secure the loyalty of the majority of Geishas and claim victory.

Published 2013

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Select difficulty level

Choose between beginner level (simple cooperative win conditions) or normal level (more options and the new 5th action)

Determine favorite geishas for beginner level

Before standard setup, randomly select 3 favorite geishas per player using one of three methods:

Reveal favorite geishas

Players show each other their 3 favorite geishas and turn over the remaining face-down geisha card to establish win conditions

For normal level objectives

Draw a cooperative objective card from your chosen difficulty level (1, 2, or 3) to determine the win conditions

Assign player roles

If the objective requires Player 1 and Player 2 roles, assign these before players look at their cards

Complete standard setup

Set up the game board and components as in the original Hanamikoji rules

Decide on 5th action (normal level)

Players agree before starting whether to use the optional "Exchange" action

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Follow standard sequence

Play proceeds through Deal, Action, and Scoring and Update phases as in original Hanamikoji

Perform one of four standard actions

On your turn, use one available action marker to play cards according to standard rules

Use the Exchange action (optional, normal level)

Once per round, at the beginning of any player's turn, both players may agree to exchange one face-down card from their hand with one face-down card from the other player's hand

Limit Exchange if desired

If Exchange feels too powerful, restrict it to once per game instead of once per round

Respect communication limits

Do not exchange any information about your hand during the game

Apply Neutral Victory Marker rule (optional)

During scoring, when a Victory Marker would move from the losing side to the winning side, instead move it to the neutral position