Assassin’s Creed Shadows: How To Fully Explore Shoryuji Castle

One of the many optional locations you can explore in Assassin's Creed Shadows is Shoryuji Castle. Based on the real-life location of the same name, Shoryuji Castle is a relatively small, fortified structure used to defend the Kyoto area. And like other castles in AC Shadows, you can explore it for a variety of different rewards. Each castle plays out exactly the same: you'll have to defeat a series of samurai daisho to unlock a Legendary Chest, which always contains a piece of Legendary gear.

While castles are technically optional, they contain some of the best rewards and may grant Knowledge Points upon completion. Therefore, doing them as you come across them is an excellent way to power up your characters in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Here's all the worthwhile loot we were able to find in Shoryuji Castle, and how you can find it, too.

Shoryuji Castle Location

Where To Find Shoryuji Castle

The location of Shoryuji Castle on AC Shadows' map.

Shoryuji Castle is, unsurprisingly, located in the Shoryuji region of the map. That puts it north of Yamazaki, south of Kyoto proper, and east of Ogura Pond.

You may want to play as Yasuke when completing Shoryuji Castle. Although this area is completable as Naoe, it involves sneaking around lots of highly populated areas where enemies have clear sightlines.

You can likely spot it from either the Yamazaki or the southern Kyoto viewpoints, then mark it on your map and head over to unlock the waypoint and begin your search. Make sure to visit the viewpoint on top of the main tower to reveal Shoryuji Castle as a fast travel destination.

All Samurai Daisho Locations In Shoryuji Castle

Samurai Daisho #1: Southeast

The location of the first samurai daisho in Shoryuji Castle in Assassin's Creed Shadows.

I found the first samurai daisho patrolling the southeast part of Shoryuji Castle's grounds. He may be located in a pretty open area, surrounded by other enemies, so you may want to tail him for a while (or play as Yasuke) to take down this one. Do note that samurai daisho positioning may vary slightly in your game based on difficulty, season, previous alerts, and their walking patterns.

Samurai Daisho #2: Far South

This second samurai daisho is located closer to the center-south area of Shoryuji Castle. He tends to linger by some thick foliage, so if you're after him in the warmer months, you'll find plenty of places to hide.

Samurai Daisho #3: Kano Painting Guard

The third and final samurai daisho at Shoryuji Castle tends to guard the northeastern building where you'll find a Kano painting within Shoryuji Castle (see below for more). He walks the boards around this building, so your best bet is to tail him until you get the opportunity for an aerial assassination.

Legendary Chest Location In Shoryuji Castle

Where To Find The Legendary Chest

As with most other castles, the Shoryuji Castle Legendary Chest is located on the highest floor of the tenshu, or main tower. I found that the easiest way to get to it was to scale the tower (or simply fast travel to the viewpoint, once you have it unlocked), then use the trapdoor in the roof to drop down onto the floor below. Climb the ladder down from the attic, and the chest will be right in front of you, usually unguarded and ready for the taking.

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This chest contains the Yurei-Walker Robes, a piece of armor for Naoe. They come with a special engraving, Silent Footsteps, that makes enemies in your vicinity less effective at detecting sound, which means you can walk more quickly without attracting attention as long as you stay unseen.

Other Rewards In Shoryuji Castle

Kura Key

Before you do anything else in Shoryuji Castle, you'll want to grab the kura key. This item can be used to quite literally open doors around the castle, getting you into otherwise locked storerooms to find a variety of different treasures and resources. I found it on the enemy in the building pictured (and marked on the map) above.

Kano Painting

You'll find a Kano painting in the building guarded by the second samurai daisho, pictured above. These items can be sold for a high price.

Castle Grounds Treasures

The following items can all be found in various places around the Shoryuji Castle grounds. See the images above for references to their locations.

Foul Kusarigama of Malice: In a small building in the southeastern corner of the castle grounds
Pirate's Mask: Just southeast of the main tower
Pirate's Gear: Near the south castle wall
Ghost-Walker Hood: In a storage shed near the Kano Painting

Tower Treasures

Heading up from the bottom, these are all the treasures you can find in Shoryuji Castle's main tower:

Brutal Teppo of Wounding
Heavy Lantern Outdoor Cosmetic

That's everything we could find in Shoryuji Castle, aside from nonspecific material and mon rewards that you should grab if you see them, but don't need to go out of your way for. If only for the Yurei-Walker Robes, you'll want to set aside the time to explore this optional location in Assassin's Creed Shadows.