Best Online Shogi Sites for International Players: English Support & More

Recommended Online Shogi (Japanese Chess) Playing Sites

Conclusion

  • Want to play many short games → Shogi Quest
  • Want long, serious games → 81Dojo
  • Want to play 2–3 games per day casually → Shogi Wars
  • Want to play with friends → lishogi / 81Dojo / Shogi Wars
  • Want a flashy, game-like experience → Shogi Wars / Kiou

This article introduces some recommended online shogi playing sites.
There aren’t many articles like this available in English, so I decided to write one with overseas players in mind.
The content is a bit on the core / advanced side.

Prerequisites / Notes

Japanese shogi services often have different features on mobile apps and browser versions. In many cases, the mobile app is more feature-rich.

However, for personal reasons (eye strain), this article evaluates only the browser versions. Please use each service in moderation. Shogi is not something worth harming your health or daily life for.

Online Shogi Playing Sites

81Dojo (81道場)  https://81dojo.com/en/

Many international players · Long time controls · Completely free

Pros
  • English supported
  • Community features available
  • Unlimited games
  • Many overseas players (important)
  • Game records (kifu) can be downloaded
  • Excellent spectating and post-game analysis tools
  • Friendly matches with friends are possible
Cons
  • Short time controls are not available

Shogi Wars (将棋ウォーズ)           https://shogiwars.heroz.jp/static/webgl/

Flashy, game-like interface and effects

Pros
  • English supported
  • Lots of visual effects; feels like a game
  • Game records can be obtained via external websites
  • With an external site called Shogi Extend, https://www.shogi-extend.com/ you can collect other players’ opening-based game records (very important)
  • Time controls include 3, 5, and 10-minute sudden-death games
  • “Sprint” mode (endgame-only) is available
  • Friendly matches supported
Cons
  • Paid AI-assisted moves are allowed
  • Paid content is generally not very cost-effective
  • Limited to 3 games per day

Shogi Quest (将棋クエスト)

http://questgames.net/shogi10  http://questgames.net/shogi

Best for fast-paced blitz · Completely free and unlimited

Pros
  • Time controls: 2, 5, and 10-minute sudden-death games (important)
  • Unlimited games
  • Game records can be downloaded from
    https://c-loft.com/shogi/quest/
  • You can analyze those records with AI shogi engines
Cons
  • Game record download requires an external site
  • Japanese only
  • No community features
  • No English support
  • Long time-control games are not available

lishogi  https://lishogi.org/?lang=ja 

Excellent features, but very few players

Pros
  • You can play at any time
  • Supports most of the features mentioned above
  • Very feature-rich
  • Operated by the same organization as lichess, so documentation and guides are easy to find
  • Analysis AI and problem-creation tools are completely free
  • English-friendly and easy for international users
Cons
  • Only one major problem: there are very few active players, so finding games is difficult (important)

Upcoming Shogi Playing Site

Kiou (Kizakura / Kisakura) 棋桜

https://appmedia.jp/news/79600088

Anime-style, social-game-like shogi

  • Anime-style shogi game
  • Feels like a mobile/social game
  • Scheduled for release in March 2026
  • Some people in Japan believe it could become the next major shogi platform

Summary

  • Want to play many short games → Shogi Quest
  • Want long, serious games → 81Dojo
  • Want to play 2–3 games per day casually → Shogi Wars
  • Want to play with friends → lishogi / 81Dojo / Shogi Wars
  • Want a flashy, game-like experience → Shogi Wars / Kiou

That’s roughly how I’d categorize them.
Feel free to choose whichever fits your style.

For complete beginners, Shogi Wars or Kiou is probably the easiest place to start.

If you're looking for more than just play sites and want to dive into Tsume-Shogi resources, click here.

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