The Stage is Set at Kiyomizu

This story runs from the Spirit Mirror journey to the temple debrief after Daidara. Defeating Sasaki Ganryu is an intermediate checkpoint. The route below covers the required traversal and a basic approach to both bosses; it does not cover every collectible or every boss attack. Controls use the displayed PlayStation layout; follow your bindings if remapped.

Travel to The Approach

At the Spirit Mirror after The Ruckus at Rendaino, open Travel → Kiyomizu-dera Temple → The Approach and confirm the destination. Leave the sheltered mirror entrance for the forest path.

Follow the uphill path to the guarded gate. Defeat the Genma outside, then speak with the gatekeeper to enter the small refuge. Cross it and speak with the priest at the far exit. Beyond him, the path opens onto a view of Kiyomizu-dera and the objective directs you toward the temple's high platform.

Continue downhill past the red-clothed statues. Archers stand above the road while melee Genma approach along it. Pull the melee enemies back out of the archers' line of sight, or take the adjoining steps to reach the raised position before returning to the road.

Farther on, wagons block the central path. Take the left-hand raised path near the archers, then descend the steps behind the wagons. Clear the enemies on that side and continue uphill to the Nio-mon Gate Spirit Mirror. Enter the courtyard beyond it and approach the dark mass to continue the story.

First Weaver: below the blocked stairs

After the vision, follow the figures up the stairs. When the invisible barrier stops you, use Oni Vision — L2 + R2 to reveal its red threads. Follow those threads back down the stairs to the Weaver beside the stone base.

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Attack the revealed Weaver at the source of the threads, then return up the stairs.

Destroying it removes this obstruction. Check that the objective returns to Head for the high platform at the temple, then climb the cleared stairs.

Continue between the buildings, dealing with the melee enemies and the archer on the raised right-hand position. The combat lessons here distinguish L1 against weapon attacks from Circle for a timed Reflex Dodge against unarmed attacks. If a Blade Barrage occurs, switch attack type: use Triangle after starting with Square, or Square after starting with Triangle.

Pass through the first building and its window exit, then continue toward the stage and the courtyard with a cart. The stage entrance is also threaded shut.

Second Weaver: return to the storeroom

Use Oni Vision at the stage entrance. The threads running to the left of the stage lead into a nearby building, but you reach their source from the cart courtyard.

Backtrack to that courtyard and enter the open storeroom beside it. Look at the interior wall near the window with Oni Vision active. Attack the Weaver there.

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This Weaver clears the side path beside the stage. Another thread source remains farther along that path.

Return toward the stage and take the newly cleared path on its left. Continue to the building ahead, pass through its corridor, and press Square (□) — Break Lock at the chained exit. Once the chain is broken, press Cross (×) — Open to enter the next courtyard.

Third Weaver: courtyard battle and cave chest

Clear the courtyard Genma. When reinforcements come through the building doors, watch the archers inside: either move into the building to deal with them or keep the melee fight out of their firing line. Continue until Defeat the Genma gives way to Follow the threads with Oni Vision.

Go through the building the reinforcements entered from and out into the garden. Follow the threads toward the narrow opening between the rocks. Squeeze through to the cave.

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The cave chest provides The Two Celestials after the final Weaver's threads are severed.

Reveal and destroy the Weaver, then open the released chest for The Two Celestials. The tutorial assigns this armament to R1 when the Oni Power Gauge has enough power. Absorb nearby blue souls with L2 to build that gauge; use the armament when an enemy is open to attack.

On the return route, a Hitotsume Sho blocks your way. Guard or parry its weapon strikes, attack after it recoils, and use the new armament when the gauge permits. Clear this fight before retracing the building corridor.

The old return path is blocked

Back near the stage, fallen timber obstructs the route you used earlier. Turn back from the fallen timber and follow the stone path to the closed wooden side gate beside the rock wall. Press Cross (×) — Examine to trigger the scene that opens the way. Defeat the two Genma beyond it, then push open the large doors.

You emerge back in the cart courtyard. Continue toward the stage and activate the Temple Grounds Spirit Mirror before entering Ganryu's arena.

Defeat Sasaki Ganryu

Keep Ganryu in view with R3. Begin at enough distance to read his approach, then use a timed L1 against an incoming sword strike. When he recoils, use a short Square or Triangle attack sequence and stop as he recovers. Chasing him with a long attack string can leave you exposed to his next approach.

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Read the incoming attack before committing to a counter; his weapon attacks and kicks require different responses.

For a kick or grab, use Circle for the timed dodge response rather than trying to parry it as a sword strike. If the fight produces a Blade Barrage, switch between Square and Triangle as in the preceding tutorial. When he becomes exhausted, move close and use Square or Triangle for Break Issen.

Continue the fight through the following exchanges and scenes. The progression checkpoint is Head for the area below the temple's stage. The mission continues beyond Ganryu.

Descend beneath the stage and enter the Oni Refuge

Leave through the other side of the stage and take the stairs down. Follow the descending path to the dark mass. Approach and hold L2 at the absorption prompt, then complete the vision.

When Investigate with your Oni Vision appears, use L2 + R2 to reveal the golden Oni Glyph. Approach the glyph and press Cross (×) — Use Oni Power to summon the giant eye. Wait for the eye to form, approach it, then press Cross (×) — Examine to enter the cave. The eye is the entrance; revealing the glyph alone is only the first step.

Follow the cave passage to the small temple and activate the Hall Spirit Mirror. Continue through the temple to the chest containing the Oni Bow.

Oni Bow: open the wall and make a route through the rocks

The bow tutorial uses hold and release R2. Face the ornate wall, aim at its glowing core, and release the shot. A successful hit raises the wall and lets you pass beneath it.

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Shoot the glowing core, not the surrounding stonework. The wall must move before you can pass.

Outside, follow the ledges down to the Genma. Use the ramp to reach the archers' level, then shoot the next ornate wall's core to open the route. The floating rock clusters ahead also have targetable cores: shooting one brings its rocks down.

Continue through the short tunnel to the next battle area. Clear the enemy waves and shoot the rock cluster above the wooden platform on the left side of the entrance. The falling rocks break the platform to make the exit accessible. If the enemies are gone but you still cannot leave, check that this cluster has fallen, then take the resulting route onward.

Glyph walkways and the final movable block

Continue along the cliff route to the ruined wooden structure. At its dead end, use L2 + R2 to reveal a glyph, approach it and press Cross (×) — Use Oni Power to form a walkway. Cross it, then take the lower path when the upper route stops. Descend the stairs and shimmy along the narrow ledge to continue toward the huge ornate gate.

The last block puzzle requires changing the block from both sides:

1. Follow the path left toward the movable ornate block. Shoot its glowing core to raise it, then pass along the opened route.
2. Climb the ladder on the right to reach the next glyph. Use L2 + R2 to reveal it, then press Cross (×) — Use Oni Power to construct the wooden bridge.
3. Cross the bridge, go through the wooden passage and climb the ledges at the far side. Turn back toward the block: from this height you can aim at its core.
4. Shoot the core again to lower the block. Return across the wooden passage and bridge toward the ladder side.
5. Approach the lowered block, climb onto its top and pass through the upper opening beside it. Continue to the Shrine Grounds Spirit Mirror.

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Shoot from this opposite ledge to lower the block, then return to use it as a step.

Do not leave the block raised after the second shot. The final route uses its top as a climbing surface.

Defeat Daidara: stay for the second phase

Use the Shrine Grounds mirror before passing through the large doorway. Daidara's first health bar is followed by a scene and another fight with a fresh health bar. Continue until the second battle ends.

For the opening exchanges, watch the club rather than attacking continuously at his feet. Time L1 against a club strike, then attack while Daidara is unbalanced. End the counterattack as he recovers so you can respond to the next swing. Absorb available souls with L2 during an opening and use R1 when The Two Celestials has enough power.

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The glowing left hand signals a grab. Make space before he reaches for Musashi.

In the second fight, back away when the left hand glows blue and rises. Staying close to extend a counterattack can put you in reach of the grab. His later long-reaching club attacks also make distance alone unreliable: keep watching the weapon and prepare your defensive response before moving back in.

This is a basic progression strategy, not a timing chart for every variation. The reliable completion check is the post-battle scene and return to the temple, rather than the first empty health bar.

Temple debrief and Story Complete

After Daidara, finish the scenes with the gauntlet's inhabitant and the conversation back at the temple. Close the reward and tutorial panels as they appear. The mission ends at Story Complete — The Stage is Set at Kiyomizu.

The next story is Kyoto, Corrupted, beginning with the task to seal two rifts around the city. Continue through the next-story navigation below when you are ready.