# Takenoko

Takenoko is a board game for 2–4 players. It plays in 45 minutes and is meant for ages 8 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 3. It is rated 7 out of 10 by 145 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $37.10 (United States).

- **Players:** 2–4 (best with 3)
- **Playing time:** 45 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 8+
- **Complexity:** 2 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2011
- **Categories:** Territory Building, Animals, Farming, Environmental
- **Mechanics:** Hexagon Grid, Race, Contracts, Tile Placement, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Tags, Network and Route Building, Dice Rolling, Die Icon Resolution, Action Points, End Game Bonuses, Set Collection, Pattern Building
- **Ludoya rating:** 7 out of 10, from 145 reviews
- **Owned by:** 298 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 1,482
- **Unique players:** 969

**Designers:** Antoine Bauza

**Artists:** Yuio, Picksel, Nicolas Fructus

**Publishers:** Matagot, Bombyx

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 401 Games | 51.95 $ | https://store.401games.ca/products/takenoko-2025-edition |
| Board Game Bliss | 51.95 $ | https://www.boardgamebliss.com/products/takenoko-eco-pack |
| Mathom | 32.39 € | https://mathom.es/es/takenoko/26792-takenoko-3760171550304.html |
| Spelexperten | 324 kr | https://www.spelexperten.com/sallskapsspel/familjespel/takenoko-swe.html |
| La Gameria | 31.5 € | https://gameria.es/juegos-de-mesa/takenoko-131.html |
| World of Board Games | 375 kr | https://www.worldofboardgames.com/takenoko-sve |
| Zatu Games | 28.79 £ | https://zatu.com/products/takenoko |
| Alphaspel | 399 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/53591-takenoko-se |
| Nordisk Spil | 264.95 kr | https://nordiskspil.dk/products/takenoko |
| Juegos de la Mesa Redonda | 37.75 € | https://juegosdelamesaredonda.com/238-takenoko-3760171550304.html |
| Good Games | 61.99 $ | https://www.goodgames.com.au/products/takenoko-new-edition |
| Hyggeonkel | 289.95 kr | https://www.hyggeonkel.dk/produkt/takenoko |
| Fantasiapelit | 42.9 € | https://www.fantasiapelit.com/index.php?main=ai&kat=single&mista=indeksi&etsittava=_174606 |
| TLAMA games | 1062 Kč | https://www.tlamagames.com/deskove-hry/takenoko/ |
| Games Empire | 71.99 $ | https://gamesempire.com.au/products/takenoko |
| Svet deskovych her | 1090 Kč | https://www.svet-deskovych-her.cz/produkty/1886/takenoko |
| Cogs Toys and Games | 44.95 € | https://www.cogstoysandgames.ie/products/takenoko |
| Curiosity Shop | 45 € | https://www.thecuriosityshop.es/products/takenoko-frances |
| Saltimbanqui | 52.95 € | https://saltimbanquikids.com/product/takenoko/ |
| Spielezar | 54.9 Fr. | https://www.spielezar.ch/brettspiele/takenoko |
| Nexus | 8995 kr | https://nexus.is/vara/takenoko/ |

## Expansions

- [Takenoko: Chibis](https://www.ludoya.com/games/takenoko-chibis)

## Similar games

- [Rebirth](https://www.ludoya.com/games/rebirth)
- [Llamaland](https://www.ludoya.com/games/llamaland)
- [Bonsai](https://www.ludoya.com/games/bonsai-2)
- [Kavango](https://www.ludoya.com/games/kavango)
- [Habitats](https://www.ludoya.com/games/habitats)
- [Koi](https://www.ludoya.com/games/koi-3)
- [Parks](https://www.ludoya.com/games/parks-2)
- [Harmonies](https://www.ludoya.com/games/harmonies)
- [Tipperary](https://www.ludoya.com/games/tipperary)
- [Reforest](https://www.ludoya.com/games/reforest-plants-of-the-pacific-northwest-coast)
- [Forest Shuffle](https://www.ludoya.com/games/forest-shuffle)
- [Whispering Woods](https://www.ludoya.com/games/whispering-woods)

## Rules questions

### Can I take the same action twice on my turn?

Normally your two actions must be different, but if you roll WIND you may take two identical actions this round; SUN gives an extra action but that extra action must be different from your two regular actions (page 4).

### If I place an irrigation channel, does bamboo grow immediately?

When a plot is irrigated for the first time a bamboo section is immediately added; plots adjacent to the pond and plots with the watershed improvement are automatically irrigated and receive that first growth as well (page 5).

### Can the gardener or panda move across empty spaces or must they move at least one plot?

Both the gardener and the panda must move over plots only (they cannot cross empty spaces) and must move at least one plot to benefit from the action; they may cross or end on the pond tile (pages 5–6).

### When can I complete objective cards, and do they stay scored if the board changes later?

You may complete objectives at any time during your turn (completing objectives does not count as an action) and a completed objective is kept permanently even if the board later changes — only the conditions at the time of completion matter (page 6).

### Can the panda eat bamboo on a plot that has an enclosure improvement?

No — an enclosure protects the bamboo: the panda can move across or stop on that plot but cannot eat any bamboo there (page 7).

### When and where can I place an Improvement chip I get (for example from CLOUDS)?

A picked-up improvement can be placed immediately or stored on your player board and placing an improvement from your reserve does not count as an action, but improvements can only be added to plots where bamboo has not yet grown (newly placed plots, non‑irrigated plots, or plots the panda just emptied); each plot can have only one improvement (pages 4, 7).

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/takenoko)
- [Takenoko in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/takenoko)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/70919)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-18. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._