You've probably seen the posters. The blood-red sun, the samurai armor, and the brooding presence of Hiroyuki Sanada. If you’re late to the party or just looking to re-watch the most decorated show in Emmy history, you’re likely asking where to stream Shogun. It’s not just another historical drama. It’s a massive, sweeping epic that basically redefined what "prestige TV" looks like in the mid-2020s.
Honestly, the streaming landscape is a mess these days. Finding one show can feel like a chore because of how licensing works between different parent companies. For Shogun, it's a bit unique because it’s an FX production, but it lives almost entirely within the Disney ecosystem.
The Primary Home for Shogun
If you are in the United States, your first and most direct stop is Hulu. Since Shogun is an FX original, it was designed from the ground up to be a pillar of the "FX on Hulu" brand. You can find all ten episodes of the first season there in 4K Ultra HD.
But wait. There’s a bit of a twist.
Because Disney basically swallowed Hulu whole, you can also find Shogun on Disney+ if you have the bundle. If you open your Disney+ app and see that little Hulu tile on the dashboard, you’re good to go. You don’t even have to switch apps. It’s convenient, though the interface on Disney+ feels a bit more "family-friendly" than the gritty, R-rated reality of feudal Japan you’re about to witness.
For those outside the US, the answer to where to stream Shogun is much simpler. In the UK, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe, it is a Disney+ Star Original. You won’t find it on local cable packages or secondary streamers; Disney keeps this one close to the chest.
Why Quality Matters When You Stream
Don't just watch this on a phone. Seriously.
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The cinematography by Christopher Ross and Sam McCurdy is insane. They used specific anamorphic lenses to give the edges of the frame a slight blur, which makes the whole thing feel like a dream—or a nightmare, depending on who’s getting beheaded. If you’re streaming on Hulu, make sure your subscription tier supports 4K. The "With Ads" plan still gives you high definition, but if you want that crisp, 2160p resolution to see every stitch in Lord Toranaga’s silk robes, you’ll want the premium settings.
Is Shogun on Netflix or Amazon Prime?
Short answer: No.
Longer answer: It’s highly unlikely it ever will be.
We live in the era of "walled gardens." Disney owns FX. Disney owns the streaming rights. They aren't exactly keen on handing over their crown jewel to a competitor like Netflix, especially when Shogun is a primary reason people are signing up for Hulu in the first place. You might see it available for digital purchase on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV (the store, not the subscription service), but as of right now, it’s a platform exclusive.
Sometimes people get confused because of the 1980s miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain. That older version pops up on various classic TV streamers from time to time. But the 2024 masterpiece? That’s staying put under the House of Mouse.
The International Perspective
If you happen to be traveling, your access might change.
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- In Japan: The show is a massive hit (obviously), and it streams on Disney+.
- In Latin America: You’ll find it on Star+, though Disney is currently merging that content back into the main Disney+ app in many regions.
- In India: It’s available via Disney+ Hotstar.
It is worth noting that some viewers prefer the "Podcast" versions or the "Making of" specials. Those are usually tucked away in the "Extras" or "Suggested" tab on Hulu. If you really want to geek out on how they built an entire 17th-century Japanese harbor in British Columbia, those featurettes are gold.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Subtitles
When you figure out where to stream Shogun, you might be hit with a moment of "Wait, I have to read?"
Yes. And it’s better that way.
There was a lot of chatter online about whether a dubbed version exists. It does, but purists will tell you it’s a mistake to watch it that way. The show is roughly 70% in Japanese. The producers—Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo—insisted on this for authenticity. When you stream it on Hulu or Disney+, you have the option for "English (Subtitled)" or "English (Dubbed)."
Choose the subtitles.
The performances by Anna Sawai (Mariko) and Tadanobu Asano (Yabushige) lose so much nuance when you replace their voices with studio voice actors. The way the language is used in the show is almost like a weapon; the translation itself is a plot point. If you’re watching the dubbed version, half the tension of the "translator" scenes disappears.
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Technical Hurdles and Fixes
Occasionally, users report that the subtitles on Hulu get out of sync. It’s a known bug that pops up if you pause the show for too long. If the text starts appearing five seconds after the person stops talking, the quickest fix is to back out of the episode and hit "Resume." It forces the player to re-sync the closed caption file with the video stream.
Also, check your audio settings. Shogun features a massive, atmospheric score and intricate sound design (the clatter of katana, the rain in the village). If you have a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound setup, make sure your streaming app is actually outputting that. Sometimes the "Auto" setting defaults to Stereo, and you lose the immersion.
The Future: Season 2 and Beyond
For a long time, we thought Shogun was a limited series. One and done. The book by James Clavell ends exactly where the show ends.
But then the show became a cultural phenomenon.
Now, FX and Disney have officially greenlit Season 2 and Season 3. Hiroyuki Sanada has signed back on. This means that keeping your Hulu or Disney+ subscription active is going to be necessary if you want to follow Toranaga’s journey into the actual Shogunate. We don't have a release date for the next chapter yet—it’s likely 2026 at the earliest—but the streaming home isn't going to change.
Actionable Steps for the Best Experience
To get the most out of your viewing, follow these specific steps:
- Check your Bundle: If you pay for Disney+ and ESPN+, check if Hulu is already included. Many people pay for separate apps when they could be saving $5-10 a month by consolidating.
- Adjust the Subtitle Appearance: On Hulu, the default subtitles can be a bit small. Go into your account settings (usually under "Subtitles & Captions") and add a black background or increase the font size. This is a dark show visually, and white text can sometimes get lost against the fog and smoke.
- Watch the "Inside the Episode" clips: After each chapter, there are 5-minute breakdowns. They explain the historical context of things like the "seppuku" rituals or the specific hierarchy of the Council of Regents. It makes the next episode much easier to follow.
- Avoid "Grey Market" Sites: It’s tempting to look for free streams, but for a show with this much visual detail, the compression on those sites is terrible. You’ll see "banding" in the dark scenes (where the shadows look like blocky layers) which ruins the gorgeous cinematography.
The bottom line is that where to stream Shogun is a solved mystery: Hulu in the US, Disney+ everywhere else. It’s a rare piece of television that actually lives up to the hype, managing to be both a bloody action flick and a quiet, intense political thriller all at once. Set aside a weekend, turn the lights down, and pay attention to the dialogue. You’ll need to.