Shrines in Assassin’s Creed Shadows offer you a chance to pray and earn Knowlerdge Points. This guide will show you the locations of all shrines in the game and where exactly to go pray to complete these events.
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Purpose of Shrines in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Shrines in Assassin’s Creed Shadows allow Naoe and Yasuke to take a moment and pray. Each location offers between 2 and 5 shrines you can honor by praying in front of them.
Completing these tasks will reward you a Knowledge Point. Knowledge Points are required to unlock higher Mastery Tiers.
There are seven types of activities you can complete in the game to earn a Knowledge point. Some are accessible to both characters, others are specific for either Naoe or Yasuke. The game will warn you if an activity can only be completed by one character or the other.
 | Temples |
 | Shrines |
 | Kuji-kiri (for Naoe only) |
 | Kata (for Yasuke only) |
 | Horse Archery (for Yasuke only) |
 | Kofun |
 | Hidden Trail (for Naoe only) |
This guide will show you where to find all shrines in the game and where exactly you can offer your prayers to complete each event and earn a Knowledge Point from it.
The guide is showing the shrines per region, in the order you will be exploring them as you progress through the game’s story as well as the recommended level for each one.
The order in which you complete Shrine events and the order in which you pray at each shrine, do not matter. I have used numbers in the guide below to make it easier to describe locations and approach to each shrine.
Sometimes you may encounter aggressive behavior and guards in the territory of a shrine. And, as always, you are never safe from the roaming ronin. Never. Nowhere. If they see you, they will attack you immediately, regardless how sacred or peaceful an area you might be in.
Shrines in Izumi Settsu
Nishinomiya Shrine
Nishinomiya Shrine is north of Nishinomiya Shrine Town, n the Nakayama Peak sub-region of Izumi Settsu.
The first shrine you can honor is at the main hall. The other two are along the gravel path leading south and southwest from the first shrine.
Sumiyoshi Shrine
Sumiyoshi Shrine is likely one of the first shrines you will visit as it’s very close to where you start the open world portion of the game, after the linear and heavily guided tutorial.
This shrine is located in southern Osaka, southeast of Temple of Osaka and north of the Old Kofun.
Two of the shrines are on the straight path that connects the north and south gates The third shrine is in the southwestern corner of the complex.
Shrines in Yamashiro
Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine
Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine is located across from the Oyamazaki Village, separated by river, on the western border of the Ogura Pond sub-region, in Yashamiro.
All three shrines are in the eastern half of the area, in the yard. The first one is on the stairs in the middle, the second is on the south fence and the last one is out near the eastern Torii gate.
Gion Shrine
Gion Shrine is situated few hundred meters to the east from Nijo Palace, in Kyoto, Yamashiro’s Hills of Meeting sub-region.
This location has two shrines. The first is directly outside the southeast gate and the second one is on the south side of the main hall building, on the wooden steps.
Kamigamo Shrine
Kamigamo Shrine is in the southeastern part of the Genbu Highlands subregion, in Yamashiro. It’s directly north of Koyoto and west of Hanazono Castle. The Shokokuji Temple Viewpoint is also nearby (and probably the better choice for a fast travel), a few hundred meters south of Kamigamo Shrine.
There are 3 shrines on the territory of Kamigamo Shrine. The first one is next to the main entrance of the complex, on the right-hand side. The second is in the bottom right corner and the last one is on the stone steps.
Shrines in Omi
Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine
Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine is located in Goshiki Outlands, in Omi. It’s just north of Nagahama’s fields.
There are four shrines here. The first one is in the middle, surrounded by water. The next is in the second building from the left as you enter from the main gate. The third shrine is in the large building. The last one is in the north corner of the complex.
Shirahige Shrine
Shirahige Shrine is on western the banks of Lake Biwa, in Ado River Valley, in Omi. It’s south of Omizo Castle and its Viewpoint.
There are four shrines you can honor. From the south gate, the first shrine is to the left and up the stairs. Further up the stairs, behind the large building, is the second shrine. The third and fourth are up in the woods at the top of two long stone staicases.
Shrines in Harima
Itatehyozu Shrine
Itatehyozu Shrine is located south of Himeji Castle, in the Himeji subregion, in Harima. It has three shrines where you can pray to earn the Knowledge point.
There are three shrines where you can offer your prayers. The first is right beside the main entrance on the north side. The second is in the southwestern corner and the third is in the northeastern corner of the shrine’s area.
Ishinohoden Shrine
Ishinohoden Shrine is located in the northern part of Kakogawa Estuary, to the east of Itatehyozu Shrine. The Mount Tatsu Viewpoint is the closest, it’s south of the shrine. On the north side, the Mount Takamikura Viwepoint is not far either.
The first shrine is in the middle, in front opf a large stone block. The second shrine is outside the fence to the right from the main entrance.
Kaya Shrine
Kaya Shrine is in Mount Kasagata, in the northwest part of Harima. The closest Viewpoint you may have to get there quicker, is Inariyama Watchtower to the southeast.
There are two shrines to honor here. The first one is in the middle of the main structure. The second one is directly east from the first. You may encounter a high level hostile NPC when you approach the second shrine, so be on your guard.
Takasago Shrine
This shrine is in Tagasago, in the Kakogawa Estuary subregion, in Harima. This area is actually a small island. The closest Viewpoint is Mount Tatsu, north of the shrine. There is a Kakurega just outside the shrine’s territory, though.
This is one of the rare occasions where a shrine is guarded. There are a lot of treasure chests and resources available in the area. The shrines you can honor, are all over the place. You can see them marked in the images and map below.
Shrines in Iga
Aekuni Shrine
Aekini Shrine is in Ichinomiya, in Iga. The closest Viewpoint is Tejikara Vista, but there is a Kakurega in Aekuni Shrine Town, just south of the shrine itself.
From the main entrance, on the south side, the first shrine is to your left. The second one is to the north, at the bottom of the stone stairs.
Kasuga Shrine
Kasuga Shrine is in the Otogi pass, in Iga. The Tejikara Vista Viewpoint is just to the northwest from it and is overlooking the shrine. To the east, across the river, is the Mibuno Castle.
If you enter from the main road on the south side, the first shrine will in the corner to your right. The next one is up the stairs to the left.
Shrines in Wakasa
Jogu Shrine
Jogu Shrine is on the north edge of the map, in Sotomo Gate, in Wakasa. It is on the eastern edge of the peninsula. Tsuruga’ s Viewpoint is very close.
This shrine has four locations and they are all close to each other, located on the four corners near the fence.
Wakasahiko Shrine
Wakasahiko Shrine is located in the Nyu Pass, in Wakasa. It is southeast from Obama and east from Nochiseyama Castle’s Viewpoint. If you take the path from Obama, it might be shorter, especially if you have unlocked the Kakurega there.
As you enter from the north, the first shrine is straight ahead, in the middle of the complex. The second is outside of the fenced area, in the southwestern end.
Shrines in Yamato
Hinode Shrine
Hinode Shrine is northeast of Todaiji Temple, in Todaiji, Yamato. You can use the Viewpoint at the top of the Pagoda in the southeast corner of the temple grounds.
This location offers two shrines for praying. One at the top, near the Torii Gate and the second one is below, at the bottom of the stone steps.
Kasugataisha Shrine
Kasugataisha Shrine is between the Todaiji Temple and Kofukuji Temple, in Nara Heartland, in Yamato. This complex is not far to the east of Koriyama.
There are four available shrines for you to honor at this location. The first one is in the middle of the complex. The next one is at the Torii gate on the north side. The third is past the cemetery in the south and the final one is on the west end.
Niukawakami Shrine
Niukawakami Shrine is nestled near the Nyoirinji Falls waterfall in the mountanous terrain of Yoshiro, in Yamato. It’s west of Nyoirinji Temple and east of Kawakami.
The first shrine is at the Torii Gate. After it, go right and up the stone steps to find the second shrine at the top.
Omiwa Shrine
Omiwa Shrine is part of the main quest “A Chance Encounter” from The Shinbakufu storyline. The shrine is located in Yamato’s Nara Heartland. I will save you the details and not provide maps, though you can visit the shrine
Shrines in Tamba
Atago Shrine
Atago Shrine is located in the mountainous area north of Kameyama, in Tamba Highlands subregion or Tamba. You can fast travel to the Kameyama Tenshi Viewpoint and then head north to explore the shrine.
There are two shrines you can pray to honor. The first one is in the large building at the top of the stone stairs as you enter from the south. The second shrine is in the back, behind the main hall, in the northwestern corner of the complex.
Onitake Shrine
Onitake Shrine is nestled in the mountainous terrain of Mount Akaiwa, west of Fukuchiyama, in Miyazu Bay, in Tamba. The Mount Akaiwa Viewpoint is on the north side of the hill, while the shrine is on its south side.
Both shrines are close to each other as this is a tiny area.
Shrines in Kii
Kamikura Shrine
Kakimura Shrineis south from Kumano Hayata Taisha on the very east end of the map in Kumano Sanzan, in Kii. It is literally under the giant boulder.
The first shrine is right in the middle of the fenced area. The second one is on the path leading up to the Overlook, it’s right on the cliff behind the giant boulder.
Kumano Hayatama Taisha
Kumano Hayatama Taisha is on the south banks of the river’s delta on the easternmost part of the map, in Kumano Sanzan sub-region, in Kii. Kakimura Shrine Overlook Viewpoint is not far to the south, where there is another smaller shrine as well.
Two of the shrines you can honor by praying are on the east side. The third is on front of a small structure on the west side.
Kumano Hongu Taisha
This complex is surrounded by the streams of the river in Kumano Sazan, in the Kii region. The easiest approach is from Hongu, which is literally next to it, on the southeast side.
You can honor three shrines on the territory of Kumano Hongu Taisha. One up the stairs in the northeast corner, another in the large building in the middle and the third shrine is outside the fenced area, in the westernmost part of the complex.
Kumano Nachi Taisha
Kumano Nachi Taisha is a rather large comlex. It is located in the southeastern end of the map, in the Kumano Sanzan subregion of Kii. West of it is the Mount Takayama Viewpoint.
As such a large complex, there are five shrines you can honor here. The first one is in the large building in the middle. The seond and third ones are in the northeast corner of the complex. There is a shrine up to the north, outside the fenced area. The final one is on the west side.
Takahara Kumao Shrine
Takahara Kumao Shrine is situated just south of Takahara Village, in Nakahechi Route sub-region, in Kii.
This is a small shrine and it only offers two locations where you can pray.
Tokei Shrine
Tokei Shrine is located northeast of Tanabe, near the southern edge of Kii, in the Nakaheci Route sub-region.
There are two shrines you have to visit here. The second one is past the wooden fence, in the north half of the garden.
