Discover the hidden serenity within Assassin’s Creed Shadows by uncovering every Kuji-Kiri meditation spot scattered across ancient Japan. From tranquil temple grounds to secluded mountain peaks, this guide reveals all the peaceful locations where you can pause, reflect, and deepen your connection to the game’s rich world-perfect for players on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox seeking to master Naoe’s journey.
In this Assassin’s Creed Shadows guide, we’ll go over what Kuji-kiri are and show you where to find all the Kuji-kiri locations in the game.
Update (April 4): We’ve added additional Kuji-kiri locations.
How to complete Kuji-kiri in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
To complete Kuji-kiri in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you must locate one of the Kuji-kiri meditation spots scattered across Japan, marked by an orange icon of Naoe sitting cross-legged. Only the character Naoe can perform Kuji-kiri, which involves a rhythm-based mini-game where you follow on-screen button prompts in a specific order and timing. As you successfully press the correct buttons, the screen shifts to a monochrome ink-painting style, and kanji characters appear. Completing the sequence rewards you with knowledge points and XP. The first four Kuji-kiri you complete trigger flashback quests that reveal Naoe’s backstory and are essential to progressing her narrative. If you mistime a button press, the mini-game resets, so precise timing-preferably pressing slightly early-is key to success.
Kuji-kiri are meditation spots used by Naoe, and you’ll need to complete at least four to finish the first part of her storyline. Interact with a Kuji-kiri to trigger a mini-game with a button-prompt sequence. Various button inputs will appear on the screen, and you’ll have to tap them in the correct order in the correct timing to complete the mini-game.
You’ll get one knowledge point for every Kuji-kiri you complete. Note, though, that Yasuke won’t be able to play these objectives – you must switch to Naoe to start a Kuji-kiri.
For the first four Kuji-kiri you complete will then automatically start a flashback quest, filling in the background of Naoe’s story. You must complete this quest (which will easily take between 10 and 30 minutes) before you return to the main open-world.
Below, we’ll detail all Kuji-kiri locations we’ve found, organized by province, in the general order in which you go through these provinces in the main story.
Izumi Settsu Kuji-Kiri locations
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the Izumi Settsu province features five distinct Kuji-Kiri meditation locations, each offering a serene spot for reflection and gameplay benefits. These include Tomiko’s Homestead, where the Kuji-Kiri overlooks a small pond east of the main building; the Sacred Bridge, situated atop a large hill southeast of Tomiko’s Homestead and near Kawachi Heights Pagoda Viewpoint; Eboshigata Hachiman Shrine, found northwest of Makinoodera Lookout with a view over the Osaka sub-region beneath the shrine’s archway; Rolling Glen, located northeast of Tennoji Temple along a road marked by a large orange arch; and The Lumber Aisle, west of the small town of the same name, just past a wooden bridge near Amagasaki Kakurega, overlooking the ocean. These locations are spread across the province, providing players with tranquil spots linked closely to the game’s narrative and exploration.
The first province in Assassin’s Creed Shadows contains five Kuji-kiri locations, which is more than you’ll find in the rest. You’ll find most of them in the hills east of Osaka. Take note that one of these Kuji-kiri locations is inside the Hideout, on the east side of the grassy field. Since this one is particularly effortless to reach, it’s a good place to start Naoe’s Journey.
Yamashiro Kuji-Kiri locations
Yamashiro in Assassin’s Creed Shadows features three Kuji-Kiri meditation spots, making it the second-lowest level region after Izumi Settsu. The first Kuji-Kiri is found near the boundary between Izumi Settsu and Yamashiro, close to the Shoryuji area above Yamazaki. The second is located north of Kyoto, along a road leading east, near a temple hidden among trees with two pools of water. The third spot lies at the northern edge of Yamashiro, near Kuramadera Temple, accessible by heading northwest from Genbu Highlands. These locations are relatively accessible and offer tranquil settings for meditation within the game.
The region north of Izumi Settsu, Yamashiro, has three Kuji-kiri locations. Luckily, they’re all fairly close to synchronization points, making them easier to reach via fast travel. Situated on a mountain, the Kuji-kiri west of Shoryuji is the trickiest to reach, but there’s a road you can follow from the castle.
Omi Kuji-Kiri locations
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the Omi province features two distinct Kuji-Kiri meditation locations, both set around the scenic Lake Biwa. One Kuji-Kiri spot is located on the western shoreline near a pool of water and a tall cliff north of Mount Hiei, accessible by climbing to the top of the cliff. The other is situated near Takashima Shores to the north, reachable via roads that connect the area without requiring difficult climbs. These spots offer tranquil settings for meditation and are part of the broader exploration of Naoe’s journey in the game.
No need to traverse that huge lake; the two Kuji-kiri locations in Omi, the northeastern region, are found on the western shore. Neither is particularly close to a viewpoint, but they are connected by a road, so there’s no treacherous climbing involved.
Iga Kuji-Kiri locations
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the Iga region, which is the homeland of the protagonist Naoe, features two Kuji-Kiri locations. One of these is found right outside Naoe’s childhood home in the Mibuno Vale sub-region and is unlocked automatically during the main story progression in the “Mind and Body” quest. The other Kuji-Kiri spot, known as the Cliffside Buddha, is located near the border between Iga and Yamato, south of Kashiware Village, close to the Nabari Lookout Viewpoint. These locations are significant as they connect deeply with Naoe’s backstory and provide important moments of meditation and reflection within the game.
If you’re up for a blast from the past in Naoe’s home region, the eastern province of Iga, the two Kuji-kiri locations you must find are located in the northeast and southwest. The one in the northeast is right next to Naoe’s house.
Harima Kuji-Kiri locations
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the Harima region features two Kuji-Kiri meditation locations, both situated in the northern part of the province. The first is Harima’s Peak Kuji-Kiri, located along the path between Kaya Shrine and Mitsunodo Hall, accessible by following the stream north from Nagusano Falls. The second is the Mount Sen Kuji-Kiri, found near the Mount Sen Viewpoint at the top of Ryugataki Falls, which can be reached by heading north from the Kitano Village Kakurega in Kamakura Valley. While the Mount Sen spot is conveniently near a viewpoint, the other Kuji-Kiri in the northwest is more remote, so it is recommended to visit it early to avoid a long return trip later.
The western province of Harima houses two Kuji-kiri locations, both found in the north. The one on Mount Sen is next to a viewpoint, so you can easily save it for later, but beware that the Kuji-kiri in the northwest is very remote, so it’s best to tackle it as soon as you’ve found it and save yourself a lengthy return trip.
Yamato Kuji-Kiri locations
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the Yamato region features two Kuji-Kiri meditation locations situated on its eastern side. The first spot is found near a small body of water southeast of Uda Matsuyama, positioned on the west side of the water adjacent to a road, making it accessible and serene. The second Kuji-Kiri is located at Nyoirinji Temple, which lies south of the first spot, beyond a wide river northeast of Yoshino. These tranquil locations offer players peaceful spots for meditation and reflection within the Yamato province.
There are two Kuji-kiri spots in the eastern province of Yamato. The one in Yoshino, the southeast, is especially interesting if you’re looking to boost your Knowledge Rank, as it’s right next to a Temple with Lost Pages and a Shrine. Luckily, both Kuji-kiri locations in Yamato are fairly close to a viewpoint, so you can easily teleport back if you’d rather tackle them later.
Wakasa Kuji-Kiri locations
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the Wakasa Province features two Kuji-Kiri meditation locations. The first is located on the western coast near the city of Obama, specifically at the Pond of the Heron, a cliff overlooking the ocean. The second Kuji-Kiri spot is found at the Kajii Monzeki Temple, situated on the southeastern boundary of Wakasa near a swampy area close to the Onyu Pass, right on the border with the neighboring Omi region. Both locations offer serene and secluded settings ideal for meditation and are part of Naoe’s journey across Japan.
You will find two Kuji-kiri locations in Wakasa, one of the two northern regions. One Kuji-kiri is south of Obama, on the shore, and the other is very close to Omi in the east. Beware that the one in the east is very remote, far from the nearest teleport waypoint, so it’s best to postpone a visit if you aren’t eager to use the Kuji-kiri spot right away.
Tamba Kuji-Kiri locations
In the Tamba Province of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, there are two Kuji-Kiri meditation locations. The first is at Seirinji Temple, situated in the southeast of Kameyama. This spot can be challenging to access if under-leveled due to the presence of strong guards. The second location is the Sukyoji Bell Kuji-Kiri, found in the city of Miyazu Bay in the northwest of Tamba. It is located inside the Sukyoji Temple, which lies west along the river running through the city. Both locations offer opportunities to engage in the Kuji-Kiri practice and gain valuable rewards.
The northwestern province of Tamba has two Kuji-kiri locations. Both are quite straighforward to find since they’re not as remote as some previous locations. The eastern one is inside a town called Kameyama, and the western one is south of Miyazu Bay – just follow the road towards the south to reach this Kuji-kiri spot.
Kii Kuji-Kiri locations
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the Kii region features two Kuji-Kiri meditation spots that players can discover. One Kuji-Kiri is located along the coast in the Sazae Oni Shores area, near the ocean and a river, providing a scenic and tranquil setting. The other is found near Nachi Falls in the southeast of Kumano Sanzan, adjacent to a waterfall that flows into the ocean. These locations are notable for their natural beauty and are situated in the highest-level region of the game, so players should be prepared for potential challenges when exploring Kii.
The southernmost region in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Kii, hosts two Kuji-kiri locations as well. Both are fairly remote, but the southern one is hard to miss if you follow the road along the shoreline. The other is hidden in the hills, in a place called Nachi Falls, southeast of the Maruyama Shrine viewpoint.
And that concludes this guide to all Kuji-kiri locations in Assassin’s Creed Shadows!
Which Kuji-Kiri locations are the most hidden and challenging to find in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The most hidden and challenging Kuji-Kiri locations in Assassin’s Creed Shadows are:
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The Kuji-Kiri west of Shoryuji in the Yamashiro region, perched on a mountain and tricky to reach despite a road leading from the castle.
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Harima’s Peak Kuji-Kiri, located on a cliff beyond a river in the remote northwest of Harima, requiring a long trip and careful navigation of challenging terrain.
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Mount Sen Kuji-Kiri, found next to a viewpoint atop Ryugataki Falls in Kamakura Valley, which involves ascending a steep path and navigating a waterfall area.
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The Seirinji Temple Kuji-Kiri in the southeast of Kameyama, which may be difficult to access due to guards and its location inside a temple yard.
These spots stand out for their remote, elevated, or guarded positions, making them less straightforward to discover compared to others that are near synchronization points or roads.
Why is the Kuji-kiri west of Shoryuji considered the most difficult to reach in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The Kuji-kiri west of Shoryuji in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is considered the most difficult to reach because it is perched on a mountain, requiring players to navigate a challenging ascent despite the presence of a road leading from Shoryuji Castle. Its elevated and remote location makes access less straightforward compared to other Kuji-kiri spots that are closer to synchronization points or on easier terrain.
