All Kuji-kiri Locations in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Kuji-kiri is a mini-game in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Find specific locations so Naoe can perform this ritual to earn Knowledge Points. This guide will show you all 22 locations!

The Purpose of Kuji-kiti in the game

Kuji-kiri is a practice of using hand gestures, rooted in Japanese traditions. It involves making symbolic hand gestures (mudras) while chanting corresponding mantras to invoke spiritual protection, focus, or energy. It is believed to enhance mental clarity, strength, and even supernatural abilities

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Kuji-kiri acts as a side activity as well as part of Naoe’s story progression. Early on, you will have an objective to complete four of these events to learn more of Naoe’s past. They are part of Naoe’s Journey board and the “Before the Fall” quest. You unlock this one very early on.

When you do, you will play through one of Naoe’s memories. These are linear gameplay quests that take part in an isolated environment.

After that, Kuji-kiri becomes a side activity, a mini game. Discover all locations and complete these challenges to earn Knowledge Points. Kuji-kiri is one of seven possible activities you can earn Knowledge Points from:

	Temples
	Shrines
	Kuji-kiri (for Naoe only)
	Kata (for Yasuke only)
	Horse Archery (for Yasuke only)
	Kofun
	Hidden Trail (for Naoe only)

There are a total of 22 Kuji-kiri locations in the game. The first two regions, Izumi Settsu and Yamarhiro have four locations each. The rest all have two locations each. The abundance of Kuji-kiri locations in the first regions is likely intentional, so you can complete Naoe’s personal quest “Before the Fall” quicker and easier.

Completing all 22 Kuji-kiri challenges will grant you the Zen Master achievement. To learn how to get all achievements, we have a handy guide with instruction.

How to complete Kuji-kiri

When you arrive at a Kuji-kiri location, Naoe will sit and start meditating. Four buttons will appear on the screen with prompts to click on them in order. You need to press the corresponding keybind when the white circle is inside the grey area. If you press at the wrong time, the circle will turn red.

As you repeat the combination several times, the symbols will start to disappear, and the game will tasks you with repeating the combination without looking at the symbols until you are done.

Sometimes you have to press more than one button at a time. As you approach the end, the rhythm speeds up too. If you make a mistake, the challenge partially resets, and you can try again. The exercise ends when you see the Japanese symbols instead of the keybinds.

To make this challenge easier, you have the option to switch the Quick Time Events between auto/default and simplified.

• The Simplified version will only require you to press arrow buttons and in an easier order. You will still be required to follow the pattern and press the buttons in a timely fashion, but you will have less buttons to worry about.
• If you change it to Auto, the character will auto complete the sequences without your involvement.

Switching this to Auto is one of our recommended settings to change. Maybe not right away, but after you complete a few events, it can feel boring and tedious to some players, so Ubisoft is providing an easy method.

Kuji-kiri Locations in Izumi Settsu

There are 4 Kuji-kiri locations in the first open region of the game, Izumi Settsu.

At the Hideout

One of the first Kuji-kiri locations you are likely to discover is at the back of the Hideout area, near the waterfalls, in Lost Hills, in Izumi Settsu.

Sacred Bridge

This one is high up in the mountains of the Kawachi Heights, in Izumi Settsu. The Kawachi Lost Pagoda Viewpoint is the closest fast-travel, southwest of the Kuji-kiri spot.

Rolling Glen

This is also one of the first locations you are likely to visit due to it being near Osaka and kind of on the path to the Hideout. The spot is located high up on a hill in the Katano Foothills, in Izumi Settsu.

Windy Shores

It’s in Nakayama Peak, in Izumi Settsu. The location is just outside Amagasaki, to the west of the castle, past the wooden bridge. It overlooks the ocean.

Kuji-kiri Locations in Yamashiro

In Yamashiro there are four Kuji-kiri locations.

Cliffs of Thought

The Cliffs of Thought is on a high peak overlooking Shoryuji Castle, in Eagle’s Nest, in Yamashiro.

Eboshigata Hachiman Shrine

This spot is on the edge on the back side of the Eboshigata Hachiman Shrine. It’s in Kawachi Heights, in Izumi Settsu.

Ginkakuji Garden

The spot is right next to the gravel circle in the garden of Ginkakuji Temple, in Hills of Meeting, In Yamashiro. Ginkakuji Source Viewpoint is close to the east of the temple.

Kuramadera Temple

The spot is right beside a small pond of water on the north side of Kuramadera Temple, in Genbu Highlands, in Yamashiro.

Kuji-kiri Locations in Omi

There are two Kuji-kiri spots in Omi.

Takashima Shores

This location is on the cliff’s edge and overlooks the lake below. It is in Takarshima Shores, in Omi. The closest Viewpoint is Mount Peak, southwest of it. The nearest town is Shiotsu to the east.

Three-Trunked Tree

You will find this one in MOunt Jiei, in Omi. The location is overlooking a lake to the south. There is a monk praying nearby.

Depending on the circumstances, it is possible that a high level (40) NPC might attack you why you are doing the exercise here. This would be The Pond Yamabushi. In fact, you may hear NPCs talking about this guy along the path leading up to this location.

Kuji-kiri Locations in Harima

There are two Kuji-kiri spots in Harima.

Harima’s Peak

This Juki-kiri location is a bit tricky to get to. The starting point is just west of Kaya Shrine, in Mount Kasagata, in Harima. Inariyama Watchtower Viewpoint is the closest fast-travel spot to this location. It’s quite a bit far away to the east, though.

From the path, look to the west and you will see the Torii Gate on the top of the hill. Hop onto the bent tree and at the end, use the grapple hook (twice) to jump across to the rocks on the other side.

From there, just follow the trail leading west and up until you climb up to the Torii Gate and the kuji-kiri location next to it. Past the first gate, you can use the hook to get to the top, in front of the circle mat where you sit and perform.

Mount Sen

The spot is on a wooden platform, on the very edge of the cliff, on the top of Mount Sen, in Mount Kasagata, in Harima.

Kuji-kiri Locations in Iga

There are two Kuji-kiri spots in Iga.

Cliffside Buddha

This spot bears a unique name because it faces a large carving of Buddha in the stone. The location is in Nabari Wilds, in Iga. It’s southwest of Nabari Lookout Viewpoint.

Naoe’s House

The Kuji-kiri spot is right at Naoe’s destroyed family house in Mibuno Vale, Iga. When you return to this part of the world, she will always comment on her sadness for her childhood and family.

Kuji-kiri Locations in Tamba

There are two Kuji-kiri spots in Tamba.

Seirinji Temple

You will find a Kuji-kiti location in the southwestern corner of Seirinji Temple, located in Kameyama, in Tamba.

Sukyoji Bell

The spot is on the north side of the main building inside Sukyoji Temple, in Miyazu Bay, in Tamba. To the east, there is a Viewpoint – Mount Akaiwa.

Kuji-kiri Locations in Wakasa

There are two Kuji-kiri spots in Wakasa.

Kajii Monzeki Temple

The Kajii Monzeki Temple Kuji-kiri is located in Onyu Pass, on the eastern border or Wakasa with Omi.

Pond of the Heron

The spot is southwest of Obama, in the Obama sub-region, in Wakasa. It’s right on the edge of the water overlooking the bay.

Kuji-kiri Locations in Yamato

There are two Kuji-kiri spots in Yamato.

Nyoirinji Footpath

This one is in the higher garden on, on the northeast side of the Nyoirinji Temple complex. It’s in Yoshiro, in Yamato. The Nyoirinji Falls Viewpoint is close by, to the west.

Soni Highlands

The Kuji-kiri spot is looking east toward Uda Matsuyama Castle. The easiest way to get to it is either from the Castle’s Viewpoint or if you have the one to the east – Mount Nukai, it’s closer.

Kuji-kiri Locations in Kii

There are two Kuji-kiri spots in Kii.

Kumanu Nachi Waterfall

It’s at the bottom of the Nachi Falls, past the Kumano Nachi Taisha in Kumano Sanzan, in Kii.

Shores of Kii

On the southern shores of Kii, east of Gobo, you will find a Torii Gate on the edge of the land. The Kuji-kiri location is right in front of that gate.