To start Ace Archer: Kyoto Imperial Palace, speak to the man standing north of the Gojo Street – West Spirit Mirror. He asks you to destroy five Kubi Akari in the Imperial Palace area. The creatures fly outside the normal walkable routes, so each kill depends on reaching a particular sightline and waiting for the target to pass through it. You may kill the five in any order, but the route below follows the clearest sequence from the southern entrance to the arena.
Mission essentials
- Mission giver: the man north of the Gojo Street – West Spirit Mirror.
- Objective: kill five Kubi Akari in Kyoto Imperial Palace.
- Order: unrestricted; the numbered route is a navigation aid, not a requirement.
- Weapon: use the Oni Bow. The bow is obtained in the Oni Refuge and is also used for ranged environmental interactions and traps.
- Important limitation: the notebook icons can appear beyond ordinary explorable paths. A marker does not mean you can walk directly to the creature; it identifies the area from which you must shoot.
Five targets at a glance
| Target | Landmark | Required sightline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwest corner of the first main palace area | North into a corridor between western buildings |
| 2 | House southeast of the crawl-through stone structures | Through a narrow window opening |
| 3 | Upper platform in the same area as Target 2 | South from the top of the ramp |
| 4 | Roof before Oikeniwa Pond Garden Spirit Mirror | Through the arch-shaped gap beside a rock formation |
| 5 | Boss arena beyond Oikeniwa Pond Garden Spirit Mirror | South over the tree-covered building |
How to unlock Ace Archer: Kyoto Imperial Palace
- Travel to the Gojo Street – West Spirit Mirror.
- Walk north from the mirror and find the lone man standing along the street.
- Speak with him. His warning about flying creatures starts the optional mission and places the five Kubi Akari objectives in your notebook and map.
- Enter Kyoto Imperial Palace and use the Palace Entrance Spirit Mirror as your southern starting point.
If the man is not present, make sure you are at the West Spirit Mirror rather than another Gojo Street position. The mission begins through the conversation; simply entering the palace does not activate it.
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Target 1: western corridor patrol
Route
- Begin at the Palace Entrance Spirit Mirror in the south of the Imperial Palace zone.
- Go north into the next major area and defeat the Genma blocking the route.
- At the northwest corner, follow the path as it starts turning east.
- Before committing to the eastward route, turn your view north toward the passage running between the buildings on the west side.
Shot
The first Kubi Akari patrols continuously along that corridor. It is not standing at a fixed perch, so hold your aim on the opening and wait for the flying creature to enter the line of fire. Firing too early usually sends the arrow into the building edge or empty space. Once the target crosses the corridor, take the shot and confirm the kill before moving on.
Target 2: the house-window shot
Route
- From the first area, head east.
- Crawl beneath the stone structures blocking the direct route.
- After emerging, defeat the two Genma near the chest containing one Oni Stone.
- Continue southeast to the corner of the nearby house.
Shot
Face the house and aim through its window. The second Kubi Akari is flying inside, but the opening provides only a narrow angle. Move until the frame no longer obstructs your reticle, then wait for the creature to cross the visible interior. Do not assume that seeing the house means you are aligned; the shot must pass through the window aperture. If the target disappears, keep the bow raised and watch the same space rather than searching the surrounding roofs.
#1 Best Overall
- Ultimate Swordplay Action – Master the blade with an arsenal of exhilarating sword techniques in absorbing battles and overcome fierce fights using every tool at your disposal, including environmental hazards and supernatural abilities.
- A Legendary Cast of Characters – Dark fantasy and history collide to tell tales of fabled figures, including Miyamoto Musashi (whose face is modeled after the late, iconic samurai movie actor Toshiro Mifune), plus Sasaki Ganryu, and more.
- Overcome Your Demons – Duel formidable foes in intense boss encounters, standing toe to toe against unfathomably powerful Genma and a sadistic rival swordsman armed with an Oni Gauntlet and devilish powers of his own.
- Explore the Mysteries of Kyoto – Step into a twisted vision of Japan’s historic capital, including faithful recreations of real-life locations like the famed Kiyomizu-dera Temple, as well as otherworldly realms with surreal landscapes.
- Pre-order Bonuses – Reserve an early copy to receive the “Sealed Curse” sword skin and “Lion Dog” charm as bonuses.
Target 3: elevated platform
Route
Remain in the broad area used for the second target and move to its northwest side. Look for the ramp leading onto the upper surface of a platform assembled from Genma structures. Climb all the way to the elevated section; firing from ground level leaves the platform and nearby architecture in the way.
Shot
At the top, turn south. The third Kubi Akari is visible from this raised position, and the height gives the unobstructed angle that the lower paths lack. Pause at the platform’s upper edge, track the target’s movement, and release when the creature clears the structures below. This is a position-dependent kill: if the target is not appearing, check that you have reached the upper platform rather than stopping halfway up the ramp.
Target 4: rock-arch sightline
Route
- Return to the northern main route.
- Continue toward the Oikeniwa Pond Garden Spirit Mirror, but do not reach the mirror yet.
- Before it, take the ramp on the west side.
- Follow the ramp onto the roof covered with rock formations.
Shot
On the rocky roof, identify the arch-like opening formed between the roofline and one of the large rock formations. Aim through that gap. The opening acts as a natural firing window; shooting around the rocks will not reach the fourth target. Adjust your position until the arch frames the air beyond it, then wait for the Kubi Akari to pass into view. Because the target can be outside the immediately visible path, use the gap as your reference and let the creature come to the sightline.
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Route
- Pass the Oikeniwa Pond Garden Spirit Mirror and enter the boss arena.
- Clear the enemies in the arena, including the demons that fire arrows.
- After the fight, position yourself to look south over the building surrounded by trees.
Shot
The fifth Kubi Akari hovers above that building. Tree branches and leaves can hide it completely, so a quick scan may make the area appear empty. Keep the camera aimed south and wait for a gap in the foliage. Fire only when the target is fully exposed; arrows that strike the canopy do not count. If the creature vanishes behind the leaves, hold the same position until it re-emerges instead of moving into the arena and losing the reference point.
Rank #2
- Ultimate Swordplay Action – Master the blade with an arsenal of exhilarating sword techniques in absorbing battles and overcome fierce fights using every tool at your disposal, including environmental hazards and supernatural abilities.
- A Legendary Cast of Characters – Dark fantasy and history collide to tell tales of fabled figures, including Miyamoto Musashi (whose face is modeled after the late, iconic samurai movie actor Toshiro Mifune), plus Sasaki Ganryu, and more.
- Overcome Your Demons – Duel formidable foes in intense boss encounters, standing toe to toe against unfathomably powerful Genma and a sadistic rival swordsman armed with an Oni Gauntlet and devilish powers of his own.
- Explore the Mysteries of Kyoto – Step into a twisted vision of Japan’s historic capital, including faithful recreations of real-life locations like the famed Kiyomizu-dera Temple, as well as otherworldly realms with surreal landscapes.
- Pre-order Bonuses – Reserve an early copy to receive the “Sealed Curse” sword skin and “Lion Dog” charm as bonuses. Pre-orders of the Deluxe Edition and Premium Deluxe Edition also include additional bonus rewards.
A reliable approach to aiming
- Use the environment as a frame. The corridor, window, platform edge, rock arch and tree line are intentional visual references. Find the frame first, then look for the creature.
- Separate movement from visibility. A Kubi Akari may be present but hidden by a wall, roof, rock or foliage. Wait for its patrol to bring it into the open.
- Do not chase the map icon. The icon marks the objective area, not a walkable destination. Reaching the correct side of the obstacle is the solution.
- Finish nearby combat before lining up. Genma and the arena archers can interrupt a charged or carefully timed shot. Clear them, then return to the landmark.
- Confirm each kill. Keep the map or notebook open after a hit and verify that the corresponding objective has registered before leaving the area.
Troubleshooting missed targets
The notebook marker is outside the path
This is expected for the mission. The five creatures are placed beyond ordinary exploration routes, and the objective is solved from firing positions rather than by reaching the marker directly. Search for the environmental landmark associated with that marker: a corridor, window, raised platform, rock opening or tree-covered building.
The Kubi Akari is not visible
Check your elevation and facing direction first. Target 1 patrols a corridor, Target 2 flies inside a house, Target 3 requires the upper platform, Target 4 is seen only through the rock arch, and Target 5 is frequently concealed by leaves. In each case, wait through the patrol cycle while keeping the correct sightline.
The arrow hits scenery
Move laterally until the reticle has a clear path through the intended opening. The second target’s window and the fourth target’s rock arch are especially unforgiving. For the fifth target, wait for the foliage to part rather than trying to shoot through it.
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Remain at the firing position and watch for another pass. A missed or obstructed arrow does not complete the objective. Reacquire the creature and fire when its body is clear of the obstacle, then check the objective entry.
Rank #3
- Ultimate Swordplay Action – Master the blade with an arsenal of exhilarating sword techniques in absorbing battles and overcome fierce fights using every tool at your disposal, including environmental hazards and supernatural abilities.
- A Legendary Cast of Characters – Dark fantasy and history collide to tell tales of fabled figures, including Miyamoto Musashi (whose face is modeled after the late, iconic samurai movie actor Toshiro Mifune), plus Sasaki Ganryu, and more.
- Overcome Your Demons – Duel formidable foes in intense boss encounters, standing toe to toe against unfathomably powerful Genma and a sadistic rival swordsman armed with an Oni Gauntlet and devilish powers of his own.
- Explore the Mysteries of Kyoto – Step into a twisted vision of Japan’s historic capital, including faithful recreations of real-life locations like the famed Kiyomizu-dera Temple, as well as otherworldly realms with surreal landscapes.
- Pre-order Bonuses – Reserve an early copy to receive the “Sealed Curse” sword skin and “Lion Dog” charm as bonuses. Pre-orders of the Deluxe Edition and Premium Deluxe Edition also include additional bonus rewards.
Enemies interrupt the attempt
For the first three locations, defeat the nearby Genma before aiming. At the fifth location, clear the entire boss arena, including ranged demons, before looking over the southern building. The fourth target is approached from a roof, so remove threats on the route before settling into the archway position.
Completion and game context
Once all five Kubi Akari have been killed, the Ace Archer: Kyoto Imperial Palace objective is complete. The targets can be collected in any order, so a missed shot never requires restarting the mission; return to the relevant landmark and try again.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is Capcom’s first new entry in the series in more than 20 years. It stars Miyamoto Musashi in an Edo-era Kyoto twisted by Malice. Capcom announced a September 25, 2026 release for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The publisher reported cumulative Onimusha series sales above 9.1 million units as of March 31, 2026; that figure covers the franchise and is not a sales total for Way of the Sword.
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