In the bustling streets of Osaka, Assassin’s Creed Shadows hides a delicate secret: 10 vibrant origami butterflies perched quietly on trees, inviting players into a seemingly innocent scavenger hunt. But as you collect each one, the quest unfolds into a gripping tale of kidnappings and dark conspiracies that will challenge your skills and morality. Ready to uncover every hidden butterfly and the story they tell? Our guide reveals all their exact locations and the pivotal choices that await you in this unforgettable side quest.
In Osaka, you’ll meet a woman who has hidden the butterflies around Osaka in Settsu as a game for children. As you collect more of the butterflies, you’ll unlock a larger conspiracy and a whole new Objectives board, which we’ve detailed in our Butterfly Collector walkthrough.
Our Assassin’s Creed Shadows guide will tell you where to find all origami butterfly locations in Osaka.
All origami butterfly locations in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, all 10 Origami Butterflies are hidden exclusively in the city of Osaka, primarily on trees scattered throughout the western part of the region known as Izumi Settsu. These colorful paper butterflies are part of the side quest “The Butterfly Collector,” initiated by speaking with a mysterious woman called the Gamemaker in Katano. Each butterfly is found on a specific tree, such as near the Temple of Osaka, gardens, riverbanks, and residential backyards. Collecting all butterflies reveals a deeper story involving kidnappings and assassination targets, making the quest more than just a simple collectible hunt. The exact locations include spots like the north tip of Osaka’s main island, gardens west of the Temple, and near bridges leading to Sakai, with none placed in enemy-controlled areas.
You’ll find the 10 origami butterflies around Osaka. They’re all contained to a pretty limited area – only a few of them are even off the island where you’ll find the Temple of Osaka and the Osaka kakurega. They’re all found on trees (not on buildings or walls) and none of them are in any enemy-controlled neighborhoods.
Use the map above or the image gallery below to see the precise locations of all origami butterflies.
The images on the map and gallery above align with the following locations:
- Just past the northern tip of the island along the canal and next to a lantern
- In a courtyard just north the Osaka gear shop
- Straight north from the Osaka kakurega on the north side of the canal
- To the northeast of the Osake kakurega and about half a block in from the canal (this is the last one not on the island)
- About halfway up the west edge of the island along the shore
- On a large tree just north of the Temple of Osaka
- On the eastern shore of the island, southeast of the Osaka kakurega
- Southwest of the Temple of Osaka by a small shrine
- On the shore in the south-southeast of the island
- Not quite to the south(west)ern tip of the island
Even once you collect all 10, you won’t be able to return to the Gamemaker for your reward. She’ll disappear until you complete the rest of the assassinations on the The Butterfly Collector board in your Objectives menu. For details on each target, see our Butterfly Collector walkthrough.
What secrets does the Butterfly Collector quest reveal in Osaka
The Butterfly Collector quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows reveals a dark conspiracy beneath its seemingly innocent scavenger hunt. While initially tasked with collecting ten origami butterflies scattered throughout Osaka, players uncover secret letters hidden inside some butterflies that expose a ring of kidnappers operating in the city. This revelation triggers a series of assassination missions targeting four key kidnappers-Richo, Mucho, Shucho, and Kacho-who have been abducting children from wealthy families for ransom to expand their influence. The quest culminates in dismantling this criminal network and deciding the fate of the Gamemaker, a woman linked to the kidnappers who was also a victim herself, adding a moral dimension to the storyline.
What hidden conspiracy do the origami butterflies uncover in Osaka
The origami butterflies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows uncover a hidden conspiracy involving a child kidnapping ring operating in Osaka. Each white origami butterfly contains a secret note revealing clues about missing children, which leads players to investigate and assassinate key kidnappers named Shucho, Mucho, Richo, and Kacho, the ringleader. The quest exposes an underground group responsible for abducting children from wealthy families for ransom, and culminates in a moral choice regarding the Gamekeeper, a woman connected to the ring who seeks redemption. This transforms the initial playful scavenger hunt into a dark and gripping narrative about crime and justice in Osaka.
