If you have some time left for exploration in Onimusha: Way of the Sword, then you should look around for NPCs who have special requests for you. Some of the NPCs will trigger a special side quest called Mysteries of Kyoto, where you need to speak to all the related NPCs as part of the quest to finish it. Sometimes, you might need to travel to various locations around Kyoto for that, which could take some time too.
Since there are 8 mysteries to solve, it shouldn’t take up a lot of your time to complete and get the unique achievement associated with this string of side quests. Here’s where you should go to find them all, as well as the steps required for each quest. As a word of caution, I recommend completing the main quest called The Demon on the Mount, as most Mystery quests unlock after that. None of the side quests are missable so that you can return to them anytime.
The Light of Vengeance Quest Guide
This particular quest is tied to the main storyline, so you will encounter it right after completing the What Lurks in the Shadows quest. First, you need to speak to Lady Murasaki at Yasaka Shrine to unlock the Mysteries of Kyoto questline. This will kickstart The Light of Vengeance quest, where you need to speak to the anxious boy. The boy is located in the southwestern section of Kyoto, and the nearest waypoint to get there is the Kiyomizu-zaka Slope Spirit Mirror.
The boy will mention his missing father, and Lady Murasaki in her butterfly form will tell you where to go next. Make your way to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple – The Approach Spirit Mirror, then follow the path northeast. I won’t suggest sticking around and fighting all the Genma enemies along the way, as it could take a lot of time. Run past them until you reach the large wooden doors, then enter the next area to find a strange man.
After the encounter, follow the man to the northwestern section of the map. There will be a Malice barrier along the way; don’t forget to check that out and unlock the treasure chest beyond the barrier to get a Power Stone. Continue onwards to find the man in front of a shrine. Your conversation with him this time will trigger the appearance of a Rift. Clear the enemies and seal the Rift, then talk to the man one last time to trigger the final cutscene.
Rewards: Malicite x2, Malicite Mass x1, Whetstone x2, Tempered Iron x1, Tamahagane x1.
The Blessed Man Quest Guide
This Mysteries of Kyoto quest can be picked up in the eastern section of Kyoto. Speak to the Strange Man on the road, and he will challenge you to a duel. Musashi will rebuke him, but Lady Murasaki will mention that the Strange Man has an aura of Malice.
Follow the man by checking your map marker or using Oni Vision to know where to go next. This will lead you inside a hut, which will trigger a cutscene. Speak to the Attacked Man and Woman inside the hut to learn about the Strange Man’s whereabouts.
Right after you exit the hut, you need to defeat all the Genma around. Then, use your Oni Vision or check your map to continue tracing the Strange Man’s location. This will take you to Nenbutsu Temple. After a quick conversation with the Strange Man here, you need to clear out the Malice Plants and defeat all the Genma in the area.
Follow the direction of the Strange Man again, and this time you will find him in front of a shrine. Your conversation with him here will trigger another wave of Genma to defeat. After clearing the area, the reason why the Strange Man was untouchable will be uncovered, which will effectively end the quest.
Rewards: Charm of Purification x1, Fine Silk Cloth x1, Leather x2.
A Wife’s Prayer Quest Guide
The next location where you need to go is right beside where you had the Strange Man interaction for the Blessed Man quest. Head inside the hut here and speak to the Gravely Ill Man. He will start berating his wife over missing her chores and mentions that she must be wasting her time at the Temple. After the interaction, Lady Murasaki will advise you to visit the Kiyomizu-dera Temple to speak to the wife.
You can fast travel to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple’s Nio Mon Gate Spirit Mirror to find the wife in question quickly. Lady Murasaki will mention talking to the other residents here to learn about the wife’s whereabouts. The first person you can talk to is the woman on top of the large stairs, standing in front of the Torii Gate.
After your conversation with her, continue to go up the stairs and use Oni Vision whenever you are stuck. You will soon encounter two other NPCs on the wooden bridge who will speak highly about the wife while calling her husband ill-mannered. The quest objective will then change to visit Okuno-in Hall. Follow the quest marker to find the wife outside a shrine.
While others might think that the wife’s daily visit to the temple is to pray for her husband’s well-being, Lady Murasaki will mention that the wife’s growing Malice is drawing in a Rift. All you need to do now is find the Rift nearby, clear the area of Genma, and seal it. Return to the wife and speak to her, then watch the rest of the cutscene unfold to end the quest.
Rewards: Iron x2, Cotton Cloth x1, Power Stone x2.
Something in the Water Quest Guide
The next Mysteries of Kyoto quest is also located in the eastern section of Kyoto. Head inside the house marked on the map and speak to the woman and a boy next to a man’s ailing body. The boy and the woman will recognize you, as you had helped them in the previous Mysteries of Kyoto quests. The woman will mention that after receiving some water from the Otowa Waterfall, the man fell seriously ill.
Use the Kiyomizu-dera Temple Grounds Spirit Mirror and head southeast. Cross the bridge and head downwards while following the quest marker. You can speak to the NPCs along the way to learn more about the waterfall. Finally, speak to the woman wrapped in elegant garb near the waterfall. Nothing will seem out of the ordinary until Lady Murasaki and Shizuka mention something that feels off.
Head back up and make your way to Yashajin’s Hall, back to the same shrine location where the wife from A Wife’s Prayer was praying. There is an Oni-Kui Mushi Barrier around the shrine this time; use Oni Vision to track down the two tendrils and kill the related spiders at the end of each one. Head back to the shrine right after, but both Lady Murasaki and Shizuka will mention that the waterfall still isn’t clear.
Head back to the Otowa Waterfall to find Dokyo floating near it. This will summon Genma around the area. Get rid of them, then examine the waterfall. It should be clear now, so head back to the ailing man to heal him and complete the quest.
Rewards: Inner Strength Charm x1, Oni Stone x2, Leather x1, Iron x2.
Wormly-Ways Quest Guide
Somewhere in the central section of Kyoto, you will meet a Three Worms Devotee in front of a large gate. She will try to entice Musashi to join the temple of the Three Worms, and she will also point you to the nearest temple location. Lady Murasaki’s curiosity will get the best of her, and she will ask you to head over to the temple’s location. There are three in total, but you need to visit the one nearby first.
Track the quest in your quest log to find it easier to locate the congregation hall nearby. Be careful while heading to the hall, as the nearby area has a Rift that can spawn the Byakue – Hundred Defilements and several Genma. Defeat them, then close the Rift. Explore the area to find a house surrounded by a wooden fence and head inside.
You will encounter Dokyo here once more, and the area will be filled with Genma. Get rid of them, after which Lady Murasaki will mention visiting the other two halls and cleansing them too. Visit the next hall and repeat the process until one hall is left. Visit that one too and speak to the priest and the devotee from earlier. Watch the cutscene, then defeat the Genma again. Clearing the area will trigger the final cutscene, which will end the quest.
Rewards: Whetstone x2, Oni Stone x2, Blazing Charm x1.
The Faceless Quest Guide
Make your way a bit north to find this quest. You will find the Calm Woman from a previous quest near the Higashioji Street Spirit Mirror. Speak to her, and she will tell you about a Faceless residing in a nearby house. Mark the quest as active, then follow the marker to the house in question.
This quest in particular will involve several Genma battles, so be prepared before you head out. The entire area around the house will be surrounded by Genma; clear them out, then head inside to find the Faceless. Defeat them too, then return to the Calm Woman to complete the quest.
Rewards: Iron x2, Oni Stone x2, Fencer’s Strength Charm x1.
The Night Parade Quest Guide
In the far northwest corner of the map is where you can find the next quest. Speak to the Troupe Member standing around to trigger the quest start. She mentions that one of her regulars might have been overtaken by the dangerous Night Parade, and that a charm that was on him saved him that night. But the charm had fallen during his escape, and it is up to you to find it.
You can either head north from the Higashioji Street Spirit Mirror or southeast from the Shijo Street Spirit Mirror to reach the quest location. You will find a hoard of Genma once you reach your destination. Clear that out, then listen to Shizuka tell you about another Genma parade nearby. This time, head west from your previous location to find the Genma parade.
Defeat them too, then Lady Murasaki will mention another Genma parade nearby. This group will have regular Genma and a Byakue with them, so defeat them all and pick up the charm that drops from the Byakue. Return to the Troupe Member and hand it over, which will complete the quest.
Rewards: Iron x2, Leather x2, Power Stone x2, Charm of Protection x1.
Some Unfinished Monkey Business Quest Guide
The final story is found in the center of Kyoto, near the same place where you had spoken to the Three Worms Devotee earlier. Over here, you will find two kids and a dog in front of the gate. Speak to the young boy here to learn about some people who were praying for Musashi’s death. Lady Murasaki will urge you to visit Rendaino’s Yoshioka school and investigate it.
Over here, you will meet three Yoshioka followers who have turned into Genma. Defeat them, after which Dokyo will appear and revive them once more. Defeat them again, then watch the rest of the cutscene unfold and complete the quest.
Rewards: Whetstone x2, Iron x1, Tempered Iron x2, Oni Strength Charm x1.
Completing all the Mysteries of Kyoto will clear this quest chain for good, and you can collect the Demystified Trophy upon completion.
