How to Find the Hidden Path in Onimusha: Way of the Sword (In the Light of an Icy Moon)

TL;DR

• The “Find the Hidden Path” objective appears in the Bamboo Grove in Arashiyama during the late-game mission “In the Light of an Icy Moon.”
• Walk the main path until you find a large monument with glowing markings. Read it — the clue is: “When going through hell, one must keep going.”
• Find the nearby Hell statue on a central structure and interact with it.
• Then walk straight through the boulder that appears to block your way — it is an illusion.
• Inside, use Oni Vision to reveal an Oni Glyph. Interact with it to open a portal.
• The objective changes to “Take the Oni Shortcut.” Follow the path to a floating rock area and use your Oni Bow to shoot glowing red circles on movable stone panels to cross the gap.
• Completing this mission rewards 2 Oni Stones and unlocks three new Chance Encounters.

The hidden path in Onimusha: Way of the Sword is one of the more cryptic moments in the game. You reach a dead end in the Bamboo Grove, Musashi suggests going back, and there is nothing obvious in the immediate area to help. The clue is there — but you have to know where to look and what it means. This is a late-game mission that comes after a lot of tough combat, so you want to push through without wasting time. This guide covers every step from the dead end to the Oni Shortcut exit in full detail.

If you are working through puzzles in the game more broadly, our mask puzzle solution guide covers the earlier underground lab puzzle in just as much detail. And for tips on navigating combat and exploration through Arashiyama’s Malice-heavy areas, our Malice fog guide is worth a read alongside this one.

Where Is the Hidden Path in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?

The hidden path is in the Bamboo Grove area of Arashiyama, during the main story mission “In the Light of an Icy Moon.” This is a late-game quest where Musashi travels to Arashiyama to investigate Malice activity and seal rifts in the area.

You reach this point after navigating the Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple and defeating Dohatsu-ten. Once that boss fight is done, the path continues west into the Bamboo Grove — and that is where the “Find the Hidden Path” objective appears. For help with the fight that comes just before this, see our guide on how to beat Dohatsu-ten.

How to Find the Hidden Path in Onimusha Way of the Sword

Step 1 – Read the Monument in the Bamboo Grove

After the objective changes to “Find the Hidden Path,” do not try to search for a hidden entrance right away. Instead, keep walking along the main path into the Bamboo Grove.

Eventually you will come across a large headstone-like monument standing among the bamboo trees. It has glowing markings carved into its surface. When prompted, examine it. The inscription reads:

“When going through hell, one must keep going.”

Shizuka reads this aloud. This line is not just flavor text — it is the literal solution to the puzzle. The word “hell” is the key. There is a statue somewhere nearby with that name, and the clue is telling you to interact with it and then keep moving forward without stopping — even through what looks like a solid wall.

Step 2 – Find the Hell Statue and Interact With It

Continue past the monument into the western section of the Bamboo Grove. You will arrive at a clearing with a large central multi-sided stone structure. This structure has several carved figurines on it, each one with a different name. Musashi suggests turning back here, and Shizuka says to look around more — which is correct.

Use Oni Vision in this area. A nearby small tombstone will start glowing when you activate it. Walk over and investigate the tombstone for additional confirmation of the hint.

Now go back to the large central structure. Walk around all sides of it and interact with each figurine one by one. Each has a different name carved into it. You are looking for the one named “Hell.” It is located at the back of the structure, facing away from the direction you came from. Interact with it.

Step 3 – Walk Through the Illusory Wall

After interacting with the Hell statue, turn around and face the boulder blocking the path between the left and right branches of the trail. This is the dead end that stopped you earlier.

Walk straight into it. The boulder is an illusion — a false wall. Musashi will pass straight through it into a new hidden section of the Bamboo Grove. The surroundings shift noticeably as you enter, with gold embedded throughout the surrounding rocks. This is a clear visual signal that you are now in the right place.

This is one of those classic video game illusory wall moments — similar to the concept found in FromSoftware titles — but the game signals the solution through the “keep going through hell” clue before you try it. If you were not sure what the hint meant, that is the answer: walk forward through what looks like a solid obstacle.

Before you continue forward, take a moment to explore the area near the central structure. There are Hozuki pickups and a Horn Token (Blazing) hidden close by that are easy to miss once you pass through the wall.

Step 4 – Use Oni Vision to Find the Oni Glyph

Once you are through the wall, follow the path forward into the hidden section of the Bamboo Grove. Activate Oni Vision while you explore this area. You are looking for a hidden Oni Glyph glowing on one of the rocks. It does not appear without Oni Vision active, so make sure it is on as you move through.

When you find the glyph, interact with it. Musashi uses his Oni Power to transform it into a portal. Examine the portal to open the hidden route. The objective now changes to “Take the Oni Shortcut.” Walk through the portal to continue. For more on how Oni Vision works and why upgrading it early pays off, see our tips and tricks guide for beginners.

Step 5 – Take the Oni Shortcut (Floating Rock Platform Puzzle)

After going through the portal, follow the path through this new section. The environment changes around you. Continue forward until you reach an area with floating rocks and stone platforms with a large gap between them — too wide to cross on foot.

Do not try to find a way across from the front. Instead, turn around and slowly walk back along the path you just came from. Look carefully at the surroundings in the distance. You will spot a movable stone panel with a glowing red circular mark on it.

Equip your Oni Bow and aim at the glowing red circle from a distance. Shoot it. When the arrow connects, the stone panel slides across the gap and creates a bridge between the platforms. Cross over using the new path.

After crossing, continue down through the area until you reach the far edge. From here, look back across to the other side — you will see the back of the first stone panel you just moved. It has another glowing red circle on it. Equip the Oni Bow again and shoot it from this side. The panel slides back to its original position.

Now look for the second movable stone panel nearby. It also has a glowing red circle. Shoot it to move the second panel and create the next bridge. Cross to continue.

Keep following the shortcut path until you reach another Oni Glyph. Activate Oni Vision to reveal it, then interact to transform it into another portal. Walk through the portal. This takes Musashi to the Swamp area of Arashiyama and completes the “Take the Oni Shortcut” objective. The “In the Light of an Icy Moon” mission then moves into its next section. For more on navigating the Swamp and what the Still Water Oni Armament hidden there, see our Oni Armaments and Oni Power guide.

What Do You Get for Completing In the Light of an Icy Moon?

Finishing the “In the Light of an Icy Moon” mission rewards you with 2 Oni Stones (stones #42 and #43). Oni Stones are the upgrade currency used to unlock Special Skills including Oni Armament upgrades. These are some of the most valuable resources in the game, especially in the late-game stretch. For the full picture on how to spend them well, see our weapon and katana upgrade guide.

Completing this quest also unlocks three new Chance Encounters:

• Chance Encounter #16: Ace Archer: Arashiyama
• Chance Encounter #17: Hidden Treasure No. 5 — this one contains the fifth and final Skeleton Hozuki, which you need to fully upgrade all Hozuki Pouches for the Medical Marvel trophy.
• Chance Encounter #18: Restless Spirits

If you are going for full completion, make sure you pick up all three of these before the point of no return at “The Clash at Rendaino.” The Hidden Treasure No. 5 Chance Encounter in particular is easy to miss and locks you out of the Medical Marvel trophy if you skip it. Our trophy and achievements platinum roadmap has the full checklist.

Tips for the In the Light of an Icy Moon Mission

• Defeat Dohatsu-ten before heading into the Bamboo Grove. This is the boss that precedes the hidden path section. The path only opens up after the fight. If you are struggling, our Dohatsu-ten boss guide breaks the fight down step by step.
• Keep the Oni Bow equipped for the shortcut section. The movable stone panels can only be activated by shooting the glowing red circles with the bow. You need it for both panels and it is the only way across the floating platform area.
• Use Oni Vision regularly throughout this mission. Both the Oni Glyph inside the hidden path and the portal at the end of the shortcut are only visible with Oni Vision active. If you walk past either without it on, you will not see them.
• Explore around the central structure before going through the wall. There are consumable Hozuki and a Horn Token (Blazing) near the figurine structure that are easy to miss once you pass through the illusory boulder.
• Walk backward slowly in the floating rock area. The first movable stone panel is behind you when you reach the gap — not in front. It is easy to keep looking forward and miss it entirely. Turn around and look back before assuming there is no way across.
• Grab the Still Water Oni Armament while in Arashiyama. It is found in a cave near the Swamp 1 Spirit Mirror, close to where the Oni Shortcut deposits you. It is the strongest late-game armament for building toward Oni Awakening and should not be missed. For more on all available armaments, see our Oni Armaments guide.
• Refill your Hozuki pouch at the Spirit Mirror. The Swamp 1 Spirit Mirror is close to where the shortcut ends. Stop there to save, refill, and fast travel if needed. Our Spirit Mirrors guide covers all save points and fast travel options.

You can play the game on Steam, PlayStation Store, and Xbox, with more details on the official Capcom site.

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