You can enter the first Hirata Estate memory as soon as you obtain the Young Lord’s Bell Charm and offer it to the Buddha statue beside the Sculptor in the Dilapidated Temple. For a first playthrough, that is a good time to explore; defeating Gyoubu first is a reasonable optional milestone, not a requirement. If Lady Butterfly proves too difficult, leave and return later.
When can you enter the first Hirata Estate memory?
Find the old woman who gives you the Young Lord’s Bell Charm in Ashina Outskirts, between the Outskirts Wall–Gate Path and Outskirts Wall–Stairway idols. Then offer the charm at the Buddha statue beside the Sculptor in the Dilapidated Temple. That opens the first memory. PowerPyx’s bell charm locations guide describes the charm’s location and use.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Sekiro Shadows Die Twice - PlayStation 4 | $77.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Sekiro Shadows Die Twice - Xbox One | $44.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice [Game of the Year Edition]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51umFzUyMBL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice [Game of the Year Edition] | $52.16 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Sekiro Shadows Die Twice - PlayStation 4 (Renewed) | $68.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Official Artworks | $46.60 | Buy on Amazon |
The game does not require you to reach a particular boss or point in the main story before entering this memory. The question is when you would prefer to take on its challenges and collect its rewards.
Should you go before or after Gyoubu?
Both timings are viable. A community answer on Arqade recommends trying Hirata after Gyoubu, the mounted boss in Ashina Outskirts, and returning to the main path if Lady Butterfly is too difficult. Treat that as player advice, not an unlock rule or a universal difficulty ranking.
#1 Best Overall
- Carve your own clever path to vengeance in an all-new adventure from developer fromsoftware
- Explore late 1500S sengoku Japan, a brutal period of constant life and death conflict, as you come face to face with larger than life foes in a dark and twisted world
- Take revenge. Restore your honor. Kill ingeniously
| Timing | Why choose it | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Go as soon as you have the charm | You can find Hirata’s prosthetic tools and Prayer Beads earlier. | You may reach Lady Butterfly before you feel comfortable with the fight. |
| Try it after Gyoubu | You have spent more time progressing through the main path before tackling the memory. | You delay access to Hirata’s items; Gyoubu is not required to enter. |
What if Lady Butterfly is too difficult?
You do not have to finish the memory in one visit. Explore what you can, collect useful items, and return to Ashina or another area if the boss is giving you trouble. Hirata contains prosthetic tools and Prayer Beads, so visiting before you can defeat Lady Butterfly may still be worthwhile. IGN’s Hirata Estate walkthrough covers the area and its contents.
Defeating Lady Butterfly grants a Memory. Use it at an Idol to increase your attack strength; it is a reward for beating the boss, not a prerequisite for entering Hirata. Fextralife’s Memory guide explains this use.
Rank #2
- CARVE your own clever path to vengeance in an all-new adventure from developer fromsoftware
- Explore late 1500S sengoku Japan, a brutal period of constant life and Death conflict, as you come face to face with larger than life foes in a dark and twisted world
- Take revenge. Restore your honor. Kill ingeniously
Is the later Hirata memory the same visit?
No. The first memory uses the Young Lord’s Bell Charm. A separate, later version of Hirata uses the Father’s Bell Charm and has additional story prerequisites, including interactions with Kuro and Emma and defeating Great Shinobi Owl. The charm must be obtained before defeating the Divine Dragon, though the alternate memory can be entered after that fight. See Fextralife’s Father’s Bell Charm guide for the alternate-memory route.
If you are deciding when to do Hirata for the first time, focus on the Young Lord’s Bell Charm. The Father’s Bell Charm concerns a later alternate memory, not the unlock for your initial visit.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- CARVE your own clever path to vengeance in an all-new adventure from developer fromsoftware
- Explore late 1500S sengoku Japan, a brutal period of constant life and Death conflict, as you come face to face with larger than life foes in a dark and twisted world
- Take revenge. Restore your honor. Kill ingeniously
Rank #3
- Kill Ingeniously – FromSoftware delivers their best in class combat in this fast-paced, action-adventure game featuring all new mechanics
- Exploration is key – Players will experience the thrill of exploration and discovery in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice like never before. Through exploration, players can uncover new items, meet new characters, and encounter hidden enemies
- One-armed wolf – Play as a highly talented shinobi in the service of a young lord raised in isolation. After suffering defeat at the hands of a shadowy Ashina samurai seeking the unique heritage of your master, the two of you are separated. Deep in the mountains, in a dilapidated temple, you reawaken to your fate. You must take back your master and exact revenge on your enemy at all cost
- Hard to the core – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a hard-core game worthy of the name FromSoftware. Miyazaki designed Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice this way! Fans of FromSoftware will find the gameplay challenging, yet fun and rewarding. The quality of combat, level of challenge, and creative enemies and bosses are something that can only be found in a FromSoftware title
- Reimagined world – This reimagining of Japanese aesthetic blends a withered, yet vivid, world of the late 1500s Sengoku Japan as the age of warring states nears its end. Witness a world brought to its knees by constant bloodshed; a ravaged world on the brink of destruction. Explore these environments, rich with FromSoftware’s intricate design and steeped with secrets to discover
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
