Clear Space, Clear Mind
Quick answer
Speak to the straw-hatted monk beside the downhill road on Kiyomizu-zaka Slope. Select Clear Space, Clear Mind on the map and press Cross to set its destination. Reach the small shrine courtyard and defeat all Genma, including the ranged enemies on the corrupted stone arch. When Report back to the monk appears, return to the same monk and speak to him to complete the story.
In this guide

Route at a glance
- Start
- Speak to the monk beside the road on Kiyomizu-zaka Slope and start Clear Space, Clear Mind.
- End
- Return after clearing the target courtyard, speak to the monk and receive Story Complete.
Step-by-step route
Accept and track the request
Find the straw-hatted monk beside the downhill road. After speaking to him, select Clear Space, Clear Mind on the map and press Cross at Set as Destination.
Check: Head to designated location is active.
Reach the shrine courtyard
From Rokudo-chinnoji Temple, exit onto the street and turn right. Follow the marked streets and bamboo-fenced lanes toward the small red shrine and corrupted stone arch.
Check: Destination Reached appears, followed by Defeat all Genma.
Clear the ground and elevated enemies
Defeat the nearby melee enemies, then look up at the corrupted arch. Aim your bow and shoot its ranged enemies with R2.
Check: The objective changes to Report back to the monk.
Return to the monk
Go back to Kiyomizu-zaka Slope and speak to the same monk beside the road.
Check: Story Complete appears with the materials and Sadist's Strength Charm.
Clear Space, Clear Mind is a resident's request that begins with the monk on Kiyomizu-zaka Slope. It has two distinct finish points: clearing the courtyard unlocks the return objective, and speaking to the monk again completes the story. Inputs below use PlayStation labels.
Find the monk on Kiyomizu-zaka Slope
Walk down the main stone-paved slope and look on your left for a monk in a blue robe and broad straw hat. He stands in a recess against a wooden house, beside bamboo poles, baskets and large jars. Approach and speak to him until Clear Space, Clear Mind starts.
Select the image for a larger view.
Open the map, select the marker named Clear Space, Clear Mind, then press Cross (×) at Set as Destination. Check that the tracked objective is Head to designated location; the main story can otherwise remain selected while you explore.
Select the image for a larger view.
Reach the small shrine courtyard
From the Rokudo-chinnoji Temple Spirit Mirror, leave through the temple gate and turn right onto the street. Pass the street-side awning and stall, then take the bamboo-fenced lane on the left. Continue through the connected garden lanes and streets toward the selected destination.
There are enemies along this approach. Keep checking the objective: a garden fight while Head to designated location remains active is still on the way to your destination.
Look for the small red wooden shrine behind a large, corrupted stone arch. Enter its courtyard. Destination Reached appears and the objective becomes Defeat all Genma. This is the clearing you need to finish.
Select the image for a larger view.
Clear the enemies above the courtyard too
Defeat the melee enemies on the ground, making room between their attacks for short sword combinations. Once the nearby enemies are down, look up at the corrupted arch in front of the shrine. Ranged Genma occupy the raised stonework and can remain after the ground looks clear.
Aim the bow at those perched enemies and shoot with R2. Move away from incoming attacks before lining up another shot. Keep clearing the courtyard until the HUD changes to Report back to the monk.
Select the image for a larger view.
If the objective still says Defeat all Genma, check both the ground and the top of the arch. The return objective is your confirmation that this part is finished.
Report back and collect the reward
Return to Kiyomizu-zaka Slope. Walk down the stone road to the same left-side recess with the bamboo poles and jars, then speak to the monk again. Finish the conversation and confirm Story Complete — Clear Space, Clear Mind.
The completion rewards are Tempered Iron × 2, Leather × 1 and Sadist's Strength Charm × 1. The courtyard clear alone does not award the completed story; the conversation closes the request.
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