All Lion Dog Locations in Onimusha Way of the Sword (All 36)

TL;DR
There are 36 Lion Dogs total, spread across Kyoto and several outlying maps.
Lion Dogs do not appear until you complete the mission “What Lurks in the Shadows.”
After that, they show up as pawprint icons on the map — easy to track.
Lion Dogs on outlying maps won’t spawn until that map is fully liberated and its final boss is defeated.
Each one rescued grants a new sword appearance (skin).
Collecting 30 Lion Dogs unlocks the Mooncrossed blade skin.
Collecting all 36 Lion Dogs unlocks the Kikoku blade skin and the For the Love of Dog trophy/achievement.
You can find them all until the Point of No Return before the final mission “The Clash At Rendaino.”
Lion Dogs carry over into New Game+ — safe to collect across playthroughs.
Track your count in the Curious Cases tab of the menu.

All Lion Dog locations in Onimusha Way of the Sword is one of the most important collectible hunts in the game if you’re going for 100% completion or the platinum. There are 36 Lion Dogs in total — small stone guardian statues hidden across Kyoto and a handful of outlying maps. Each one you rescue gives you a new sword cosmetic, and finding all 36 unlocks the prestigious Kikoku blade skin plus the For the Love of Dog trophy and achievement. None of them are permanently missable, but they won’t even appear on your map until the right story condition is met.

For a full collectible sweep alongside this guide, check out our all Hozuki Pouches locations guide and our Spirit Mirrors guide — both are useful for navigating each area efficiently as you collect.

Lion Dog Locations in Onimusha Way of the Sword

Table of Contents

Everything You Need to Know Before You Start

When Do Lion Dogs Unlock?

Lion Dogs do not appear on the map at all until you complete the mission “What Lurks in the Shadows.” Before that point, none of them exist in the world regardless of how thoroughly you explore. Once that mission is done, they show up as pawprint icons across the map — they’re not hidden from the map once unlocked, which makes tracking them down straightforward.

What About Outlying Maps?

Lion Dogs on maps outside central Kyoto — such as Mount Oe and Arashiyama — will not spawn until that entire map is fully liberated and its final boss is defeated. If you go to one of those maps and can’t find an expected pawprint, the area is not yet cleared. Finish the boss for that region and return.

Are They Missable?

No. You can collect all 36 Lion Dogs right up until the Point of No Return before the final mission “The Clash At Rendaino.” The game keeps you able to free-roam and clean up everything before that point. Keep a manual save before entering the final mission as extra insurance. Lion Dogs also carry over into New Game+, so if you miss some on your first run, you won’t lose your progress.

What Do They Unlock?

Each individual Lion Dog — grants a new sword cosmetic skin when rescued.
30 Lion Dogs — unlocks the Mooncrossed sword appearance.
All 36 Lion Dogs — unlocks the Kikoku sword appearance and the For the Love of Dog trophy/achievement. Report to Lady Murasaki Shikibu after collecting all 36 to receive the final reward.

For the full list of sword cosmetics and how to unlock them, our guide on how to unlock all sword appearances and cosmetics covers everything. The Lion Dogs are listed below in the same order they appear in the Curious Cases tab of the menu.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple — Lion Dogs #1 to #3

Three Lion Dogs are found in the Kiyomizu-dera Temple area. This map must be liberated and its final boss defeated before these will spawn.

Lion Dog #1 — Found behind the Malice Barrier on the path North from the Nio-nom Gate Spirit Mirror. Clear the Malice Barrier first to access this one.
Lion Dog #2 — Found in the room where you fought Sasaki Ganryu at the Temple Grounds.
Lion Dog #3 — Found in the burning town to the West of the waterfall.

Nijo-jo Castle — Lion Dogs #4 to #6

Three Lion Dogs are located across the Nijo-jo Castle area and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. These spawn once the map is fully cleared.

Lion Dog #4 — Found along the main path in the Gardens West of the Nijo-jo Castle Entrance Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #5 — Found just South of the Palace Interior Spirit Mirror in Kyoto Imperial Palace.
Lion Dog #6 — Found right just North of the Nue Pond Spirit Mirror.

Mount Oe — Lion Dogs #7 to #12

Six Lion Dogs are hidden across Mount Oe. These will not spawn until Mount Oe is fully liberated and its final boss is defeated. If the pawprints aren’t showing, finish the area first. For help with that map’s locked areas, our guide on how to open locked cave doors on Mount Oe has you covered.

Lion Dog #7 — Found on the main path heading forward from the Mount Oe Entrance.
Lion Dog #8 — Found on the West side of the house (outside) that is North of the Ruins Area I Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #9 — Found in the attic of the building just South of the Ruins Area II Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #10 — After heading down the elevator after the Castle Entrance Spirit Mirror, head down the short path to the North.
Lion Dog #11 — Found in a house East of the Cave I Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #12 — Located right near the Storehouse Spirit Mirror.

Arashiyama — Lion Dogs #13 to #15

Three Lion Dogs are found in the Arashiyama area. Like other outlying maps, these only spawn once Arashiyama is fully liberated and its final boss is defeated. If you’re still working through that chapter, our guide on the hidden path in the Light of an Icy Moon covers that area in detail.

Lion Dog #13 — Found in a house at the dead end of the village West of the Hozu River Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #14 — Found in the center section of the bridge South of the Togetsu-kyo Bridge Spirit Mirror. Must be accessed from the Hozu River Spirit Mirror side.
Lion Dog #15 — Located just outside the house North of the Temple Spirit Mirror.

Eastern Kyoto — Lion Dogs #16 to #36

The largest cluster by far. 21 Lion Dogs are spread across Eastern Kyoto. This is the central hub of the game and the area you’ll spend the most time in. Work outward from each Spirit Mirror to sweep the area efficiently. Unlock the Oni Vision: Treasures skill early — it highlights nearby collectibles through obstacles and makes this sweep much faster.

Lion Dog #16 — Found behind the buildings South of Emma’s Hall.
Lion Dog #17 — Found in a small shrine area West of Emma’s Hall.
Lion Dog #18 — Found at the dead end West of the Kiyomizu-zaka Slope Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #19 — Found near the shrine behind the merchant (Yorimasa’s Monument).
Lion Dog #20 — Found in the tower next to the Yasaka Pagoda Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #21 — Found behind the houses South of the Kiyomizu-zaka Slope Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #22 — Found in the courtyard of Emma’s Hall.
Lion Dog #23 — Found in a hut far East of the Gojo Street – East Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #24 — Found West of the Gojo Street – West Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #25 — Found just West of the bamboo forest in the South of Kyoto.
Lion Dog #26 — Found near the bamboo forest in the South of Kyoto.
Lion Dog #27 — Found in the back of Emma’s Hall.
Lion Dog #28 — Found near the Farm Southwest of the Kiyomizu-zaka Slope Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #29 — Found at the base of the bridge you fight Benkei on, West of the Gojo Street – West Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #30 — Found on the dock South of the Sanbar – Near Stage Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #31 — Found in an alleyway South of the Shijo Street Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #32 — Found on the shore North of the Kamo River – East Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #33 — Found in the Southwest corner of Kyoto.
Lion Dog #34 — Found on the farm South of the Yasaka Shrine Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #35 — Found behind a shack Northeast of the Yasaka Pagoda Spirit Mirror.
Lion Dog #36 — Found in an alley South of the Yasaka Pagoda Spirit Mirror.

Tips for Finding All 36 Lion Dogs Efficiently

Unlock Oni Vision: Treasures First

Before hunting Lion Dogs, spend Oni Stones to unlock Oni Vision: Treasures, Oni Vision: Treasures 2, and Oni Vision: Search Range at any Spirit Mirror. Once all three are unlocked, hold L2 and tap R2 to activate Vision — nearby collectibles light up through walls and obstacles. This makes the Eastern Kyoto sweep significantly faster and ensures you don’t walk past a Lion Dog hidden inside a building.

Track Your Count in Curious Cases

Open the menu and go to the Curious Cases tab at any time. It lists all 36 Lion Dogs in numerical order and shows which ones you’ve already rescued. If you’re short on the count, compare the list against the locations above to figure out which area you haven’t fully swept.

Clear Malice Barriers Before Sweeping

Some Lion Dogs sit behind Malice Barriers — Lion Dog #1 near Nio-nom Gate is a clear example. If a pawprint shows on the map but you can’t reach it, check whether a Malice Barrier is blocking the path. Clear the barrier first, then collect. Our Malice Fog guide explains how to clear Malice plants and barriers.

Finish Each Outlying Map Before Sweeping It

Don’t waste time searching Mount Oe or Arashiyama before their final bosses are down. The Lion Dogs simply will not be there. Defeat the boss for each region, then return for the sweep. For Mount Oe specifically, see our guide on how to beat Shuten Doji at Mount Oe.

Save Before the Final Mission

Before starting “The Clash At Rendaino,” create a manual save. This is the Point of No Return. Everything can still be collected up until this point, and having that save means you can reload and mop up anything you missed without replaying the entire game.

Use Fast Travel Between Spirit Mirrors

With 21 of the 36 Lion Dogs in Eastern Kyoto alone, fast travel is your best friend for sweeping the area without backtracking on foot. Our Spirit Mirrors guide covers all fast travel points across every map.

What Happens After You Collect All 36?

The For the Love of Dog trophy and achievement pop automatically the moment you rescue the 36th Lion Dog. After collecting all 36, report to Lady Murasaki Shikibu to receive the final reward — the Kikoku sword appearance, one of the most visually distinctive blade skins in the game.

If the trophy hasn’t appeared and you think you have all 36, open the Curious Cases tab and double-check the full list. A common cause is a Lion Dog on an outlying map that didn’t spawn yet because the area boss is still alive — go finish the boss and return.

Lion Dogs and the For the Love of Dog Trophy — Quick Recap

Complete “What Lurks in the Shadows” to make Lion Dogs appear on the map as pawprint icons.
Lion Dogs on Mount Oe, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera, and Nijo-jo Castle only spawn after each map’s final boss is defeated.
The largest cluster — 21 dogs — is in Eastern Kyoto.
Unlock Oni Vision: Treasures skills first — they make every collectible visible through walls.
Each Lion Dog rescued gives a new sword skin.
30 dogs = Mooncrossed sword skin. All 36 = Kikoku sword skin + For the Love of Dog trophy.
Report to Lady Murasaki Shikibu after all 36 for the final reward.
Track your total in the Curious Cases tab of the menu at any time.
Nothing is permanently missable — free-roam is available until the Point of No Return before “The Clash At Rendaino.”

For more collectibles and completion content, see our guides on all Hozuki Pouches locations, all Charms and best builds, and the full trophy and achievements guide with platinum roadmap. And if you want to see all the sword cosmetics these Lion Dogs help you unlock, check our full outfits and cosmetics guide and the sword appearances unlock guide. For a look at how this Carnage difficulty run connects with Daidara and other bosses, check out our guide on how to beat Daidara on Carnage difficulty.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is available on Capcom’s official site, Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox.