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It's like asking how long it will take to reach 1-dan, it varies so much depending on time commitment, motivation, personal ability and method. I'd expect it would take at least a couple years, though there are examples of people becoming somewhat fluent in 6 months, so anything is possible.

As for the best approach, you'll find lots of opinions. I think people are generally bad at remembering what it was like when they started learning and knew nothing, so all those "here's how I'd do it if I started all over again" are not always the best advice but I'll try to give you my version of it anyway:

• Start with a generic "learn Japanese" method, those won't take you very far but you have to start somewhere. Your first goals should be to get a feeling for how Japanese works, basic grammar, a few basic words and most importantly learn to read and write hiragana and katakana (the phonetic system used in Japanese writing). I recommend the Japanese in Mangaland series of books, but any other decent beginner method will do.
  
  
• In parallel get the JapanesePod101 podcasts. Those really helped me a lot, as I would listen to them every day and build listening ability. They start from the very beginning too. Continue listening to them, especially during the next step for motivation.
  
  
• Now this is going to be controversial but after doing introductory material for some time, if you're really committed to learning Japanese and be efficient at it, you have to bite the bullet and learn the Kanji (Chinese characters): all 2000+ of them that are in common use. Fortunately that isn't that hard if you use the Heisig method, you can use the Kanji Koohii website to manage the flashcards you'll use for memorization. It's a bit controversial because with this method you're learning the Kanji in isolation without learning how they are actually used in Japanese. It's still 100% worth it. This turbo-charged my Japanese learning like nothing else before. It took me 3 months to go through the book and learn all the characters. Once you're familiar with the characters, it's 10 times easier to learn vocabulary, even if your goal is to listen to shogi commentary, it's still the best way of doing that in my opinion (plus you'll be able to read shogi books eventually)
  
  
• Once you're done with the kanji you need to start building vocabulary, using your new kanji knowledge, it will be much more efficient, as you learn vocabulary, you learn how to write them using kanji you already know and as a consequence learn how those kanji are pronounced and used. This is why this method works so well. For vocabulary I recommend using the Anki flashcard software, you can download pre-made decks of vocabulary. Look for Core 2k, 6k and 10k which are a set of most common words complete with example sentences and audio, there are alternative but I think those are the best lists. A few thousands words plus shogi specific vocabulary should be enough to get a decent understanding of shogi programs.
  
  Anyway this isn't everything, you need to continue with more grammar, practice, and so on while doing that, but this is the gist of what I wish I knew when I got started. I guess it can seem a bit overwhelming but just get started and go one step at a time...
  
  Also you'll need this: Dictionary :)

Meh, I don't think it's necessary. You get used to the designs if you play enough. I've had great success teaching people to play shogi using this learner set that shows how each piece moves on the actual piece:

https://www.amazon.com/Study-Shogi-Japanese-Chess-Pieces/dp/B002ACUC4A/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=shogi+set&qid=1557609380&s=gateway&sr=8-5


I taught my friend and his girlfriend to play using this, and now they play each other even when I'm not around! he actually bought his own set because he liked it so much.

I will say though, I do like the designs you created and think they are very beautiful.

I have just received one of these sets. I ordered it from:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002ACUC4A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It is really rather well made, though basic. It is all wood, and after the application of a little oil polish, it will look rather nice.

Normally, I wouldn't wish to be found dead in a ditch carrying a Shogi set with modified ('westernised') pieces, but this is OK. It is presumably a teaching set for Japanese children. It has the kanji in the centre of the (large-ish) pieces, and the moves sensibly illustrated - as shown in the illustration in the OP, in fact. It even has the two forms of the King, which sometimes doesn't happen with really low-end sets. Frankly, it's the only modified set I've seen in 50 years which is acceptable.

I also got a set of basic wooden Tori Shogi pieces from the same supplier - which is a bonus - Tori Shogi pieces are pretty hard to come by:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000BFMHKK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Later edit: There are other suppliers, mostly also despatching from Japan, but some from elsewhere. If you go for this, pick your supplier with care. I paid just over £30 for this item. Some (a very few) suppliers were charging up to £90+ for the same item!!!

http://shop.nekomado.com/products/detail.php?product_id=127

I bought these books and so far I've found the Joseki book extremely helpful. Unlike tsume problems, these books don't focus on singular solutions; rather, they break down various tactics and discuss why certain moves are optimal in various situations.

For an absolute beginning resource, I would recommend

https://www.amazon.com/Which-pieces-you-need-mate/dp/4905225043/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504898612&sr=8-1&keywords=which+pieces+do+you+need+to+mate

It'll introduce you to the dropping mechanism and what pieces you need to checkmate. After that, I would recommend looking up tsume problems, either through books or the internet.

Unfortunately, a large chunk of the best shogi resources are going to be in Japanese and they're probably only going to be available as physical copies in Japan. But consider buying the books I linked, work on tsume problems wherever you can find them, and check out http://www.shogishack.net/.

This one perhaps?

Personally, I bought one of the Nintendo Shogi boards. They are pretty nice at a reasonable price.

the Czech set is cool too:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015FOY1WI

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And, George Hodges had the same solution as you back in the 1970s: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013F0L6Y

They look a bit like the pieces sold by Amazon, judgig by the kanji style: https://www.amazon.com/Wooden-Shogi-Japanese-Chess-Pieces/dp/B003M2O1KI

I don't see how this is not a good idea, it's basically an artistic version of this, so not exactly anything new. I can agree however that it's kinda lame. It looks like whenever you upgrade a piece you have to basically switch it out with another piece rather than just flip it. Truly lame.

Oh, and also this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kumon-New-Study-Shogi/dp/B002ACUC4A/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2