I don't know if first, power was returned to the Emperor and a series of reforms were made to modernize Japan, both things referred to as the Meiji Restoration, and that led to the Boshin War, or if first the Boshin War occurred between the supporters of the Emperor and the process of modernization (Satsuma and Choshu clans) and the supporters of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate (I guess it defended traditional customs), and since the first ones won, after the Boshin war the Meiji Restoration occurred.
I read that Boshin war was fought from 1868 to 1869, but in a chronology, where would be the Meiji Restoration located: before or after Boshin War? And Meiji Restoration is normally in Japan conceived as a event happened in 1868, or which span of time would it have?
I've tried to read several articles about the matter, but since my knowledge of this topic is still very limited, I don't understand many things and at some point I end up quite confused. If you could please help me to clarify the main points of these events, I would be very thankful.