Sekiro guide: Hidden rooms, secret doors, and shinobi shortcuts

The world of Sekiro isn’t full of hidden paths and shortcuts, but the few that exist usually lead to useful items and helpful treasures.

All five of the below shinobi shortcuts use the same rotating door mechanic — you walk up to a wall and hug it as if you were trying to be stealthy. Below we’ll walk you through finding all five of Sekiro’s hidden (and a couple not-so-hidden) doors.

Hirata Estate

After you defeat Juzou the Drunkard, but before you head down to Lady Butterfly, there’s a secret door near the Hirata Estate > Hirata Audience Chamber Sculptor’s Idol. Head back toward where you fought Juzou, then take a right down the hall where two guards are patrolling. The hidden door has a scroll hanging over it. There are a lot of goodies back here — most notably a Prayer Bead.

Kuro’s Room

To the left of the shrine in Kuro’s room — at the Ashina Castle > Upper Tower – Kuro’s Room Sculptor’s Idol — there’s a shortcut that leads to the Dilapidated Temple. This shortcut is only available after you defeat Genichiro Ashina and find Lord Kuro in his room.

Ashina Castle

Near the Ashina Castle > Upper Tower – Antechamber Sculptor’s Idol — the same place you start to find the Sabimaru Prosthetic Tool — head up the stairs and into the main room. Head to the right into the room with two samurai. There’s a hidden door on the back wall between the two suits of armor. This room has a couple of coin purses and another Prayer Bead.

Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo

At the top of Senpou Temple, near where you fought the Armored Warrior, you’ll find the Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo > Bell Demon’s Temple Sculptor’s Idol (after a lot of climbing). In the building just before the Bell Demon’s Temple, there’s a shinobi shortcut that leads back to the Ashina Outskirts Headless arena.

Mibu Village

The final hidden door is a strange one. After you defeat O’Rin of the Water, continue across the bridge, past the ghostly samurai, and head up the hill. Take out the villagers around the locked house, then head to the right of the stairs and duck under the house. Head to the left side to find the hidden door in the floor of the house. There’s an NPC inside along with some treasures. Upstairs, you’ll find another Prayer Bead.