The Hidden Path objective appears during the “In the Light of an Icy Moon” mission in Onimusha: Way of the Sword. This section takes place in the Bamboo Grove of Arashiyama. The solution is easy to miss because the game does not point toward the entrance.
Because the area looks straightforward, many players can easily assume they simply missed a doorway or another route hidden somewhere nearby in the grove without noticing it.
Read the Stone Tablet First
Follow the main route through the Bamboo Grove until you reach the central area with a statue. Nearby, you will find a small stone tablet with glowing writing. Examine it to reveal the clue:
“When going through hell, one must keep going.”
The important word is “hell.” It tells you which statue figure to use.
Return to the central statue and examine its different figures. Look for the figure labeled “Hell.” Once you identify it, position yourself so that the Hell figure is directly behind Musashi.
Walk Through the False Wall
With the Hell figure behind you, turn around and walk straight ahead toward the rocks. The rocks look like a solid wall, so it is natural to assume that you have reached a dead end.
Do not turn away.
Keep walking directly into the apparent wall. It is an illusion, and Musashi will pass through it into a concealed area. You do not need to attack the rocks, use a special weapon, or search for a switch.
The clue tells you to keep going through “hell,” which is why finding the correct statue figure matters.
Activate the Oni Eye
Once you pass through the false wall, enter the hidden area and use Oni Vision to inspect your surroundings. This reveals the Oni-related interaction needed to continue.
Activate the hidden Oni Eye or glyph when it appears. Doing so creates the portal that takes Musashi onward and completes the “Find the Hidden Path” objective.
Remember this sequence:
- Read the glowing stone tablet.
- Identify the statue figure named Hell.
- Put the Hell figure behind Musashi.
- Walk straight into the rocks.
- Pass through the illusion.
- Use Oni Vision to reveal the hidden Oni interaction.
- Activate it to continue.
What Happens After the Hidden Path
Finding the passage leads into the next part of the Bamboo Grove sequence. After using the first portal, the game moves you toward the “Take the Oni Shortcut” objective.
You will eventually encounter a gap with floating platforms and a movable stone panel. If the route seems impossible to cross, look around instead of forcing a jump. A glowing red target on the stone mechanism can be hit from a distance with the Oni Bow, allowing the panel to move and create a usable route.
You may need Oni Vision again to reveal hidden Oni glyphs later. Watch for unusual markings.
Tips for Solving the Puzzle
The biggest mistake is treating the first stone wall like an ordinary obstacle. The game is testing your attention to environmental clues.
A few tips can save time:
- Read every glowing inscription before leaving.
- Pay attention to unusual statue labels.
- If every visible path ends in a dead end, reconsider the clue.
- Walk into suspicious walls when the objective suggests a hidden route.
- Use Oni Vision when the environment appears unusual.
- Keep the Oni Bow ready for later stone-panel puzzles.
Once you understand the trick, the puzzle is short. The solution is tied to the statue clue, not a conventional entrance.
