Assassin's Creed Shadows - Art Collector Quest Walkthrough

When you make it to Kyoto for the first time in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you’ll run into a mission that requires you to collect some pieces of art. While on paper this sounds easy, in reality, you may have to scour the wide landscape of Japan for hours to find them.

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On top of that, the game doesn’t point you in any direction other than telling you each painting is found in a castle. If you’re struggling to find these paintings or can’t locate the castles you need to look into, this guide will walk you through the whole process.

How To Start The Art Collector Quest

As mentioned, the mission giver is in Kyoto. However, you’ll need to find his exact location to trigger the quest first.

If this quest isn’t unlocked for you when you enter Kyoto for the first time, make your way to the western side of town on the western face of Nijo Palace. It should also be directly north of Kano Painting School.

You can still find all the paintings without starting the quest. So if you’re in a castle like the one in Osaka, try searching the entire property for a painting before leaving.

Upon entering the location, navigate to the largest house near the painting school. He'll be located inside a building beside the painting school.

If you’re in the right place, you should be greeted by Kano Eitoku. He’ll instruct you to find a total of ten paintings scattered throughout Japan.

Plus, as mentioned, they’ll be in certain castles. In turn, this might make your search a little more complicated.

However, if you read on, you can pinpoint every painting's location easily.

All Paintings And Where To Find Them

The good thing about them being in castles is that you don’t have to go out of your way to find them. With that being said, make sure you are leveled up appropriately and have the right gear.

Mainly because, if you’re starting this quest in Act 1 of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, many of the castles may be a few levels above yours. It would be a better idea to get the paintings as you level up.

Consider using Naoe over Yasuke. She can sneak around and get out of harm’s way better. Plus, because of her speed and agility, you can quickly find each painting without getting hurt.

Nijo Palace Painting

The first painting will be near Kano’s Painting School at Nijo Palace. When you enter the palace, make your way to the northern section.

It’ll be located in a house northeast of the palace’s viewpoint. You can find the painting on the wall of the main room. Make sure you take care of the guard first before taking the painting.

Shoryuji Castle Painting

South of Kyoto and in the province of Yamashiro, you can head to Shoryuji Castle. It's located east of Ogura Pond.

The painting will be on the far eastern side of the castle near the south entrance. Just like the one in Nijo Palace, you can find it in a house.

It can be entered from any side. Once you make it to the middle section, take out the guard and nab the painting. This painting should be beside samurai armor.

Takatsuki Castle Painting

By going east of the Muggy Lands and south of Yamazaki Castle, there will be Takatsuki Castle.

Aside from dealing with a handful of guards, this painting is relatively easy to get. It will be located in a house on the eastern side of the castle grounds.

To help get your bearings right, look south of the viewpoint. The house where the painting is located will be in a compound of other homes. By getting close to its location, the icon showing you where it is should pop up.

Unlike most paintings, which are in a large room, this Kano Painting can be found in a smaller room. However, deal with the guard who’s directly in front of the door. The painting should be on the left with a chest in front of him.

Osaka Castle Painting

Heading further south to Osaka in Izumi Settsu, make your way to a building that’s directly southwest of the castle's viewpoint.

Once you’re in this location, navigate to the house that’s the farthest away from the castle. If you see two guards standing near the entrance of a house, that’s where you’ll need to be.

The painting will be in front of you as you open the door next to a hiding spot.

Koriyama Castle Painting

This castle is in the northwest part of Yamato, which is one of the southern provinces above Kii. The fourth painting is somewhat easy to find as it’s in the same area as the viewpoint.

Make your way to the northern area of the castle and enter it. The painting should be on the third floor from the base of the castle. There will be a window beside it with a staircase in front.

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Azuchi Castle Painting

In eastern Omi and east of the Military Harbor in Azuchi, you can find a painting. Much like the painting in Koriyama, this one can also be found in the main castle.

First, head to the most northern part of the castle grounds. You should be in a castle with a viewpoint at the top.

If you’re coming from the top or the bottom, the marker showing the painting will lead you to a large room in the middle part of the castle. It should be on the wall of this room.

Nagahama Castle Painting

If you venture north of Azuchi to Nagahama, you’ll find another painting here. It will be located right on the water. This painting might be tricky to spot on the map since it appears right under the viewpoint.

All you need to do is head to the base of the castle and head left till you reach another large room on the first floor of the castle. You'll have to deal with a few guards first before you can reach the painting. Once they're out of the way, you can freely obtain the painting.

Nochiseyama Castle

This castle is in the northern part of the map, just south of Obama in Wakasa. If you’re still having trouble finding it, look directly south of Tadaji Temple, which is near Obama.

The painting is in the same building as the viewpoint, akin to the other two you’ve found.

A good idea would be to come in from the top of the castle since it's two floors below the viewpoint. Otherwise, if you ascend, you'll have to deal with the high number of enemies in the lower levels of the castle.

Fukuchiyama Castle

To find this painting, go near the middle of the castle grounds, where there's a cluster of homes. It'll be right in front of the castle and its viewpoint. By coming from the direction of the viewpoint, you'll end up on the southern side of a house.

The painting will be on the right side of the door you entered from.

Himeji Castle

For the final painting (if you’re going by this order), head to the western part of the map to Harima. Himeji Castle is in the westernmost section of the province.

To find this painting, start by going to the eastern side of the castle and south of the viewpoint. If you're at ground level and near the viewpoint, go south till you reach the eastern entrance of the castle's grounds.

Afterward, walk across, and you'll be in the house with the tenth painting. The doors should already be open with a single guard sitting down. Dispatch him and then look to the upper left corner of the room. The painting will be on the wall.

Finally, the painting should be in the back left corner of that same room.

Now that you have the last painting, you can head back to Kano in Kyoto. Upon completing the quest, you’ll earn decorations for your Hideout plus a healthy dose of XP.

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