eXputer
Subscribe

Locationmajor

Castle Shimura

Castle Shimura is the seat of Clan Shimura and one of the most important story locations in Ghost of Tsushima.

Importancemajor

Key takeaways

  • Region Toyotama
  • Prefecture Kubara
  • Function Clan seat, fortress and major story location
  • Primary story use The Fate of Tsushima, From the Darkness, Honor and Ash, and Heart of the Jito
  • Main forces associated with it Clan Shimura, Clan Sakai, Clan Oga, Clan Yarikawa and Mongol forces
  • Permanent open-world services None verified
  • Collectible status No castle-specific collectible directory is reliably established by the sources consulted
  • Best time to explore During the story missions that enter the fortress, especially The Fate of Tsushima and From the Darkness

About this guide

Spoiler warning: This guide covers major story events in Acts 2 and 3, including the siege of Castle Shimura, Jin’s imprisonment and the final confrontation with Lord Shimura.

Overview

Castle Shimura is the seat of Clan Shimura and one of the most important story locations in Ghost of Tsushima. It stands in Kubara Prefecture, Toyotama, south of Kin Falls and north-east of Kubara Falls. The castle is not a normal open-world settlement with a merchant, armourer or permanent collection of side activities. Instead, it is a story-bound fortress whose layout, occupants and accessibility change several times during the campaign.

The location’s importance is both strategic and personal. Militarily, it is the principal stronghold of Lord Shimura and the final major Japanese fortress in the central part of Tsushima. Narratively, it is Jin Sakai’s childhood home, the place where he was raised by his uncle, and the setting in which Jin’s conflict with samurai ideas of honour becomes impossible to avoid.

Castle Shimura should therefore be understood as a single named location with several progression states, rather than as a freely explorable castle-town region. The nearby Lord Shimura’s Camp, Kin Falls, Kubara Falls and surrounding roads are separate places and are not part of the castle itself.

Included within the castle

These areas are not necessarily open at the same time. Some are only available during specific missions or in particular story states.

Nearby places that are separate

The following locations should not be merged into Castle Shimura:

---

The game does not provide a full official subarea list for Castle Shimura. The following directory consolidates the named or functionally distinct spaces that can be verified from the story missions and walkthrough evidence.

Nearby places that are separate

NameDetails
Lord Shimura’s CampThe military encampment used to gather the allied forces before the assault. It is outside the castle and serves as the starting point for The Fate of Tsushima.
Kin FallsA nearby natural landmark and route reference.
Kubara FallsA nearby landscape feature used by guides to describe the castle’s position.
The roads and countryside of KubaraThese form the surrounding open world, not the castle’s internal territory.
Castle KanedaA separate fortress in Izuhara, associated with the rescue of Lord Shimura during Act 1.
Port IzumiA separate Mongol stronghold in Kamiagata, not part of Castle Shimura.

Outer approach

The outer approach is the area used to reach the castle from the surrounding countryside. During The Fate of Tsushima, Jin and the allied forces prepare to attack from outside the fortress. During Heart of the Jito, Jin approaches from the northern side and uses a route near the water and a fisherman to reach the walls.

The approach is not a settlement or checkpoint. It is a mission route that becomes more or less dangerous depending on whether the Mongols or samurai control the fortress.

Outer walls and climb routes

Castle Shimura’s walls are important both as fortifications and as traversal puzzles. Jin uses ladders, cliffs, gaps, ropes and wall climbs to avoid the main entrances during infiltration missions.

The northern route used in Heart of the Jito is particularly significant. Jin crosses the river, finds a fisherman near the castle and climbs the walls beside the waterfall. The route is deliberately narrow and largely linear, with guards positioned to punish careless movement.

Courtyards

The courtyards are the principal combat and stealth spaces inside the castle. During From the Darkness, Jin crosses a guarded courtyard to poison Mongol drink containers. The area contains tents, wooden barriers, patrol routes and cover that support stealth play before the poisoning sequence changes the mission into open combat.

The courtyards are not ordinary free-roam activity spaces. Their enemy placements and usable routes are tied to the mission currently being played.

Keeps and main buildings

The castle contains several substantial buildings, including the first keep and Lord Shimura’s quarters. The keep areas are used for infiltration, command scenes and the confrontation with Ryuzo.

The main interior spaces should not be treated as a permanent palace map. The player enters them under specific story conditions, and access to doors, rooms and upper levels changes as the campaign advances.

Lord Shimura’s quarters

Lord Shimura’s quarters are the target of Heart of the Jito. Jin enters the castle to leave a message asking his uncle to join the coming fight against Khotun Khan. The mission is a stealth operation rather than a battle, and Jin must avoid detection while moving through the fortress.

The quarters are therefore both a functional story space and a symbol of the relationship between Jin and Shimura. Jin can reach the room, but he cannot simply speak to his uncle and resolve the conflict. The written message becomes the only way he can communicate safely.

Stables

The stables are used during Honor and Ash. After escaping confinement, Jin must reach his horse and leave the castle. The stables are a mission objective rather than a permanent horse-management facility.

No stable service, horse customisation menu or named stablemaster is verified at Castle Shimura.

Prison area

After the successful recapture of the castle, Jin is imprisoned there because Lord Shimura regards his use of poison as a violation of samurai conduct. Honor and Ash begins with Jin held inside the castle under guard. Kenji helps create an opportunity for escape, after which Jin moves through the compound and out towards Yuna.

The prison state is story-specific. It should not be confused with a general jail facility or repeatable capture mechanic.

---

Castle Shimura has four important gameplay states.

1. Japanese stronghold before the siege

Before the Mongol occupation, Castle Shimura is the seat of Lord Shimura and the centre of samurai authority in Toyotama. The game does not offer an extended free-roam visit during this peaceful state, so most information about its normal residents and routine comes from dialogue, mission context and environmental presentation.

2. Mongol-occupied fortress

The Mongols capture Castle Shimura during their invasion. Khotun Khan’s forces use it as a major stronghold, and Ryuzo remains behind during the later assault. The castle is heavily guarded, with Mongol soldiers, defensive positions and fortified approaches.

3. Reclaimed by the allied forces

The allied forces retake the castle in The Fate of Tsushima and From the Darkness. The operation involves Clan Shimura, Clan Sakai, Clan Oga, Clan Yarikawa, Yuna and other allies. The military objective is achieved, but Jin’s methods create the political and personal crisis that follows.

4. Samurai-controlled prison and departure point

After Jin poisons the Mongols, Lord Shimura has him arrested. In Honor and Ash, Jin escapes from the castle and begins the final phase of his pursuit of Khotun Khan. This is the last major story state in which the castle functions as a populated samurai location.

---

Named characters associated with Castle Shimura

The following named characters are directly associated with the castle’s story events or military history.

Not all of these characters are present inside the castle at the same time. Several are associated with the siege or the surrounding preparation rather than being permanent residents.

Named characters associated with Castle Shimura

Lord Shimura

Lord Shimura is the jito of Tsushima and head of Clan Shimura. Castle Shimura is his seat of power and the place most closely connected with his political identity.

The castle reveals his priorities clearly. He wants to retake it through a conventional assault, even if that means sacrificing soldiers. Jin instead chooses poison and stealth to reduce Japanese casualties. Shimura regards this choice as a direct attack on the samurai order he represents.

Jin Sakai

Jin is connected to the castle as Shimura’s nephew, adopted heir and military subordinate. He is also the Ghost, whose methods conflict with the values represented by the fortress.

His relationship with Castle Shimura changes across the story:

Jin Sakai: steps

  1. 01
    He helps reclaim it.
  2. 02
    He enters it secretly to deliver a message.
  3. 03
    He is imprisoned there.
  4. 04
    He escapes and abandons the possibility of returning as a recognised member of Clan Shimura.

Yuna

Yuna helps Jin plan the poisoning operation and waits for him after his escape. She represents the practical, survival-focused approach that Jin increasingly adopts. Her role is associated with the castle’s liberation and Jin’s departure, but she is not a resident of the fortress.

Ryuzo

Ryuzo remains at Castle Shimura after Khotun Khan moves north. Jin confronts and defeats him inside the castle during From the Darkness. Ryuzo’s presence turns the recapture into a personal reckoning as well as a military operation.

Kenji

Kenji is not a castle resident. He is associated with the prison section of Honor and Ash, where he helps Jin escape by distracting the guard and creating an opening.

Allied factions

Clan Shimura

The castle is the seat of Clan Shimura and its samurai retainers.

Clan Sakai

Jin represents Clan Sakai during the campaign, although his actions increasingly separate him from samurai authority.

Clan Oga

Clan Oga provides reinforcements for the assault on Castle Shimura. Lord Oga is encountered outside the castle before The Fate of Tsushima begins.

Clan Yarikawa

Yarikawa retainers join the allied assault despite the old hostility between Yarikawa and Shimura.

Warrior monks of Kushi Temple

The warrior monks of Kushi Temple are among the forces involved in the battle for the castle. They are allies during the siege, not permanent castle inhabitants.

Mongol Empire

The Mongols occupy and defend Castle Shimura before the Japanese counterattack. Khotun Khan is the principal Mongol commander associated with the castle’s occupation, while Ryuzo commands the Straw Hat forces aligned with the invaders.

---

Castle Shimura is primarily a mission location. It has no verified independent side-activity loop.

The Fate of Tsushima

Act: 2, Retake Castle Shimura Starting point: Lord Shimura’s Camp Main purpose: Prepare and launch the assault on Castle Shimura

The mission begins outside the castle. Before committing to the long tale, Jin can speak with several allies, including Kenji, Lady Masako, Norio and Sensei Ishikawa. The mission then moves into the battle for the fortress.

The Fate of Tsushima is an important progression point. It warns the player that the next sequence is long and temporarily affects travel between regions. After beginning the mission, it is sensible to finish outstanding purchases, upgrades and optional tasks that require free travel.

Practical preparation: Before starting

  1. 01
    Upgrade preferred weapons and armour.
  2. 02
    Spend accumulated technique points.
  3. 03
    Complete any desired Toyotama tales that are convenient to reach.
  4. 04
    Restock arrows, explosives and healing supplies.
  5. 05
    Speak to the optional allied characters at the camp.
  6. 06
    Begin the mission only when ready for a long story sequence.

From the Darkness

Act: 2 Main purpose: Retake Castle Shimura through Jin’s poison-based plan Major reward: Ghost Armour and a major Legend increase Boss: Ryuzo

From the Darkness follows The Fate of Tsushima. Lord Shimura intends to conduct a conventional assault, but Jin and Yuna use wolfsbane to poison the Mongol forces inside the castle. The mission begins with a stealth approach using grappling points, rocks, cover and gaps in the defensive perimeter.

Walkthrough outline

The mission changes tone sharply after the poisoning. The first half rewards patience and line-of-sight management. The second half is a direct combat sequence followed by a major story confrontation.

Walkthrough outline

  1. 01
    Meet Yuna and obtain the plan.
  2. 02
    Approach the castle without alerting the defenders.
  3. 03
    Use the grapple and surrounding terrain to reach the infiltration route.
  4. 04
    Move through the grass, tents and barriers.
  5. 05
    Poison the first drink container.
  6. 06
    Cross to the second container and poison it.
  7. 07
    Once the poison takes effect, prepare for open combat.
  8. 08
    Search the battlefield for supplies if desired.
  9. 09
    Enter the marked building.
  10. 10
    Duel Ryuzo.
  11. 11
    Meet Lord Shimura after the battle.
  12. 12
    Accept the consequences of using poison.

Honor and Ash

Act: 3 Starting point: Castle Shimura Main purpose: Escape after Jin’s arrest Reward: Major Legend increase

Honor and Ash begins automatically after From the Darkness. Jin is imprisoned inside Castle Shimura, and Kenji helps him escape. The castle is now under samurai control, so the danger comes from Jin’s former allies rather than Mongol defenders.

Escape route

This is a stealth escape rather than a normal combat mission. Focused Hearing is useful for identifying guards, while careful movement is preferable to forcing fights against the castle garrison.

Escape route

  1. 01
    Speak with Kenji.
  2. 02
    Leave through the window.
  3. 03
    Climb onto the nearby roof.
  4. 04
    Cross the slackline.
  5. 05
    Use the tents and buildings as cover.
  6. 06
    Enter and exit the indicated buildings through windows.
  7. 07
    Squeeze through the gap in the wall.
  8. 08
    Reach the stables.
  9. 09
    Escape on horseback.
  10. 10
    Rejoin Yuna outside the castle.

Heart of the Jito

Act: 3 Main purpose: Enter Castle Shimura and leave Lord Shimura a message Reward: Major Legend increase

Heart of the Jito takes place after Jin has been separated from the samurai. He returns to Castle Shimura from the north, crosses the water and climbs the wall near a fisherman. His objective is to reach Lord Shimura’s quarters without being detected.

Stealth advice

---

Castle Shimura’s hazards depend on the mission state.

Mongol defenders

During the occupation and recapture missions, expect combinations of:

The castle is dangerous because enemies can converge quickly in enclosed courtyards. Ghost Armour is useful during the stealth sections of Heart of the Jito, while combat-focused armour is more appropriate once From the Darkness becomes an open battle. The recommendation to use Ghost Armour for stealth is also made by contemporary walkthrough guidance.

Samurai guards

During Honor and Ash and Heart of the Jito, the guards are samurai. They are not Mongol enemies, and their presence reflects Jin’s change in legal and political status.

Traversal hazards

---

Castle Shimura is not a commercial settlement.

Verified functional services

No permanent merchant, armourer, swordsmith, bowyer, trapper, dye merchant, inn, stable service or shrine service is verified inside Castle Shimura.

Story facilities

The castle does contain spaces that function during missions:

These should not be mistaken for repeatable player services.

Named directory

The last four labels describe functional spaces rather than necessarily being formal map labels. They are included to distinguish the mission areas, not to suggest that each is an independently marked location.

---

The research consulted for this guide does not establish a reliable, castle-specific inventory of Records, Mongol Artefacts, Sashimono Banners, Pillars of Honour, Vanity Gear or other permanent collectibles inside Castle Shimura.

Players should therefore avoid assuming that every visible chest, supply bundle or mission pickup is a collectible tied to the castle. Some containers are mission loot, while others are temporary or state-dependent.

Named directory

Confirmed story rewards

The Ghost Armour is presented to Jin by Yuna during the preparation for the poisoning operation. From the Darkness then uses the castle’s assault as the setting for the armour’s first major story appearance.

---

Confirmed story rewards

MissionReward or progression
The Fate of TsushimaMajor Legend increase and story progression
From the DarknessGhost Armour, Ghost Headband and major Legend increase
Honor and AshMajor Legend increase
Heart of the JitoMajor Legend increase

First visit: The Fate of Tsushima

Follow the mission route. The game is directing you through an assault rather than offering a sightseeing trip. Loot safely after major combat sections, but do not abandon the objective for long periods.

Stealth visit: From the Darkness

Use the outer terrain, grapple points and grass to reach the courtyard. Poison both containers before attempting to loot extensively. The mission becomes much more dangerous once the poisoning takes effect.

Escape visit: Honor and Ash

Do not try to fight your way through every guard. The intended route uses buildings, rooftops, windows and wall gaps. Move quickly once the escape begins.

Infiltration visit: Heart of the Jito

Approach from the north, use the waterfall-side climb and remain patient. This is the best opportunity to observe the castle’s defensive layout without triggering a full battle.

---

Before entering Castle Shimura for its major missions:

---

Castle Shimura is the physical expression of Lord Shimura’s worldview. It is ordered, defended and hierarchical. Its walls represent the samurai’s promise to protect Tsushima, but they also represent the limitations of that promise when conventional warfare proves too costly.

Jin’s decision to poison the Mongol garrison is the castle’s defining moral event. Tactically, it saves Japanese lives and helps secure the fortress. Politically, it demonstrates that Jin no longer accepts the authority of the samurai code when that code prevents him from protecting the island. Shimura’s anger is not merely personal disappointment. It is the reaction of a ruler who believes Jin has undermined the legitimacy of the order he is trying to preserve.

The fortress also completes the reversal of Jin’s relationship with his uncle. Jin was raised to inherit Shimura’s traditions, enters the castle as his ally and leaves it as his prisoner. By the time Jin returns in Heart of the Jito, the castle is no longer home. It is a hostile political space that must be entered in secret.

The poison used at Castle Shimura has consequences beyond the immediate battle. The Mongols learn from Jin’s tactic and later reproduce the method against the people of Tsushima, linking the castle’s victory to the suffering that follows in the northern regions.

---

Castle Kaneda is linked to the beginning of Jin’s campaign to rescue his uncle. Castle Shimura is linked to the collapse of their political relationship. Port Izumi is the later Mongol stronghold that Jin and Yuna pursue after escaping the castle.

---

Infiltration visit: Heart of the Jito

LocationRegionMain roleStory state
Castle KanedaIzuharaRescue Lord Shimura during Act 1Mongol-held, then liberated
Castle ShimuraToyotamaSeat of Clan Shimura and site of Jin’s moral breakMongol-held, reclaimed, then politically hostile
Port IzumiKamiagataKhotun Khan’s northern strongholdMongol-held late-game location

Can Castle Shimura be visited before its story missions?

The surrounding area can be approached, but the meaningful interior routes are controlled by progression and mission state. Heart of the Jito provides a specific northern infiltration route, while the siege missions open other parts of the fortress.

Is Castle Shimura a Mongol territory?

It is occupied by the Mongols during part of the story, but the location itself is the fortress and clan seat of Clan Shimura. Calling it a Mongol territory describes one progression state rather than its permanent identity.

Are there shops inside Castle Shimura?

No permanent commercial services are verified. The castle contains mission facilities such as stables, quarters and prison spaces, but not a normal merchant hub.

Is Ryuzo a boss here?

Yes. Jin fights Ryuzo inside Castle Shimura during From the Darkness after the poisoning operation.

Can Jin return to Castle Shimura after finishing the story?

The castle’s accessibility is inconsistent across progression states and versions, and unofficial reports describe boundary exploits or partially unloaded areas. Such methods are not reliable, are not part of the intended game route and should not be treated as canonical access. This guide therefore does not claim a standard post-game free-roam state.

Are collectibles inside the castle missable?

No reliable source consulted here establishes a complete, castle-specific collectible inventory or a verified missability list. The safest approach is to examine the castle during its story missions if you are collecting screenshots, supplies or mission loot, but do not assume that every visible object is a permanent collectible.

---

This article covers the base-game Castle Shimura location, its verified surrounding boundaries, story states, major internal spaces, characters, factions and missions. It deliberately excludes Castle Kaneda, Lord Shimura’s Camp and Port Izumi from the castle’s directory because they are separate locations.

A fully verified item-by-item inventory of every temporary chest, supply bundle, decorative building, background structure and collectible placement inside Castle Shimura was not established by the available sources. Those details should be added only after checking a dedicated interactive map or direct gameplay footage for the relevant mission state. This guide should therefore be treated as substantive but not a claim of exhaustive object-level completeness.

Sources