A n00b united japan. Now what?

[sumo0]

So, I finally united Japan in the year 1531 (is that late to unite Japan?) by the use of personal union on taira and fujiwara and took over the last one the old fashion way (i had 41 infamy at one point). I realize i need to westernize now but I can't see any western nations but Algiers unless i sail all the way to Europe.
My question is if i can use Algiers to westernize without having to sail all the way to Europe? To sail there i guess i would have to capture a few provinces on the way there so to not lose my ships and the army i put in them?

 

[Gnufan]

I think you need a bordering province to have western/muslim tech but I'm not sure. I'm currently trying to unite Japan for the first time myself but I guess you have to wait until the europeans start colonizing Asia.

 

[Thatiswackson]

I formed it in around 1467 i think, i reccomend trying to sell one of your not so good provinces (maybe a colony) to a nation with muslim tech and westernize to muslim, then by then hopefully you have been discovered by some nation and you can see europe. Then repeat the process twice, once to get to oriental tech, then western. Then modernize your military, i know it is a pain in the ass but it must be done!

 

[Seelensturm]

When you become muslim tech you will also learn about their discoveries which should include western nations.

 

[Boon63]

You can also colonize Siberia from the east coast and you will eventually meet a russian country.

 

[cywang86]

Start trying to sell a province to a Muslim nation if you're ready. Any province is fine, as it's impossible for them to defend it against rebels, so it'll eventually defect back to you, which can be used again on the western tech nations.

While you're recovering stability from westernizing, you should consider picking up QftNW and colonize as many New World provinces from the west side as your economy can managefrom the west side. (go from the north end, to avoid most of the open sea attrition.
Milk and kill the natives if they're still around.

Alternatively you can pick up Unam Sanctum and get as many rich Indian provinces from the Buddhist nations as you can before the Europeans show up.

Once you're westernized to Muslim/Western tech units and have a power base in New World/SE Asia, you can even consider taking on Ming/Korea/Manchu for the sweet sweet PUs.

 

[chals]

dont cheese so hard.

Fight your anciant enemies of China! and colonise what you can yes

 

[King_of_Spain]

My question is if i can use Algiers to westernize without having to sail all the way to Europe? To sail there i guess i would have to capture a few provinces on the way there so to not lose my ships and the army i put in them?

Can't you just ask for military access as you sail round places, then repair your ships in those ports?

I've never played as Japan so I don't really know, but I think you should go for the West Coast! Imagine Japanese California; that would be so great

 

[Icendoan]

Can't you just ask for military access as you sail round places, then repair your ships in those ports?

I've never played as Japan so I don't really know, but I think you should go for the West Coast! Imagine Japanese California; that would be so great

It's actually easier for you to just sail around Africa, take a province from Algeria or Morocco (who will, no doubt, be bordering the western Castille) and from there sail to Mexico and take over the Natives by nearly completing a circumnavigation than attempt to sail the pacific. You could attempt to hop to Hawaii, but that's not easy, or sail around Alaska, but it's easier to keep ships alive early on going the long way, as there are shorter minimum stretches you have to travel.

 

[King_of_Spain]

It's actually easier for you to just sail around Africa, take a province from Algeria or Morocco (who will, no doubt, be bordering the western Castille) and from there sail to Mexico and take over the Natives by nearly completing a circumnavigation than attempt to sail the pacific. You could attempt to hop to Hawaii, but that's not easy, or sail around Alaska, but it's easier to keep ships alive early on going the long way, as there are shorter minimum stretches you have to travel.

Oh yeah, come to think of it I've had trouble with the Atlantic if I'm being careless, and that's practically a puddle compared to the mighty Pacific.