You’re running around Ijincho, trying to be a hero, and then some guy in a sub-story tells you he needs photos of mythical river imps. Typical Yakuza—or rather, Like a Dragon—behavior. Finding every Like a Dragon kappa statues location isn't just a completionist's whim; it’s a million-yen payday that feels like a godsend when you're struggling to upgrade Ichiban’s gear in the early game.
Look, the "Kappa Report" quest is a grind. You have to find ten of these creepy little guys tucked away in the corners of Yokohama. They aren't just sitting in the middle of the street waving at you. Some are behind glass, others are hidden on balconies, and one is literally in a place you can't access until the plot decides you're ready.
Why These Creepy Statues Actually Matter
Most people ignore the Part-time Hero quests because they look like fetch quests. They are. But the Kappa quest is different. Completing it nets you a cool 2 million yen. In a game where a high-end bat or a decent set of armor costs a fortune, that cash injection changes everything. It turns Ichiban from a guy living in a dumpster-adjacent room to a man who can actually afford to survive the tougher dungeons.
The statues themselves are a nod to Japanese folklore. Kappas are mischievous water demons known for liking cucumbers and challenging people to sumo matches. In Yakuza: Like a Dragon, they're just plastic statues, but finding them requires a keen eye for the absurd level of detail Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio puts into their maps.
The Problem with Most Guides
Most guides just give you a map and say "go here." But Ijincho is a dense, multi-layered mess of alleys and verticality. You can stand right on the map marker and see absolutely nothing because the statue is behind a fence or inside a shop.
Hunting the Like a Dragon Kappa Statues in Ijincho
Let's get into the weeds. You need to pull out your in-game camera (up on the D-pad) and snap a photo. If the prompt doesn't pop up, you aren't close enough or the angle is wonky.
The South-End Starters
Start in the Commercial District. Down by the river, specifically near the Can Quest area. There’s a statue hanging out near the Sunrise St. area, tucked into an alcove. Honestly, it’s one of the easier ones, but people often run right past it because they’re too focused on dodging the low-level thugs wandering near the homeless camp.
Then there's the one in the South Sakura River St. area. It’s near a boy looking at the water. If you follow the riverside path toward the Southwest, you'll spot it near the bridge. It's just sitting there, looking out at the polluted water. Very atmospheric. Very kappa.
The North and Central Hunt
Moving up to the North side of the map, specifically the Geovannah area. This one is annoying. It's not on the street. You have to look into the windows of the buildings. Specifically, near the Survive Bar area in the Bar District. Go upstairs in the building that looks like a small mall or office complex. The statue is tucked away in an area that feels like it should be out of bounds.
✨ Don't miss: Until Dawn the Psycho: Why We Still Can’t Shake Josh Washington’s Breakout
In Jinnai Station, don't look on the platforms. Look at the elevators or the glass enclosures. There is one hidden behind a glass partition. You can see it, but you can’t touch it. Just aim your camera and hope the game's hit detection for photos is feeling generous today.
The Infamous Koreatown Statue
This is the one that breaks people. It’s in a spot that looks like a dead end. In the Koreatown area, behind a fence near the stairs of a specific building (often near the Fukutoku Park area), there’s a kappa hiding in an alcove. You have to stand at a very specific angle to get the "Take Photo" prompt to appear. If you’re a pixel off, Ichiban just stares at the wall like a madman.
The Late-Game Gatekeeping
You cannot finish this quest the moment you get it. This is a common point of frustration. One of the Like a Dragon kappa statues is located inside a geographic area that is walled off by story progression. Specifically, the area near the Liumang headquarters or certain parts of the Northeast map.
If you try to rush this in Chapter 5, you'll hit a wall. Wait until at least Chapter 7 or 8 when the map fully opens up. There is a statue in the Hamakita Park area, which is wide open, but there’s also one near the Chinatown district that requires you to weave through narrow alleys where high-level enemies spawn. If you’re underleveled, those "hungry" icons on the map will turn you into a kappa snack before you can even get your phone out.
The Most Overlooked Spot
The most overlooked one isn't even outside. It’s in a shop. Go to the Ebisuko Pharmacy. Don't look at the shelves of Staminan X. Look up or behind the counter area. It’s sitting there, blending into the clutter of a Japanese drugstore. It’s a clever bit of environmental storytelling—a business owner keeping a kappa for good luck—but it’s a nightmare for players who assume all statues are in the "wild."
Nuance and Folklore: Why the Kappa?
RGG Studio doesn't pick these things at random. The kappa is a symbol of the "old Japan" that is being pushed out by the modernization seen in the Ijincho redevelopment projects. By making you photograph them, the game is subtly forcing you to look at the parts of the city that are being ignored. The back alleys, the cluttered shops, the quiet corners of the park.
It also mirrors Ichiban’s journey. He’s a guy who loves Dragon Quest and sees the world through a lens of myth and heroism. To him, these aren't just plastic dolls for a side quest; they're legendary creatures hidden in a concrete jungle.
Common Misconceptions
- "The statues move." No, they don't. If you can't find it, you're at the wrong shop or on the wrong floor.
- "You need a special camera." Your default smartphone camera works fine.
- "Night vs. Day." Time of day doesn't affect their visibility, though the lighting in the Bar District at night makes the one there much harder to see.
Actionable Steps for the Kappa Hunter
If you're ready to clear this off your list and claim that 2 million yen, follow this workflow:
- Advance to Chapter 7: Don't even bother trying to find all ten before this. You'll just frustrate yourself reaching invisible walls.
- Clear the Bar District First: This area is the most vertical. Get the statue near Survive Bar out of the way so you aren't backtracking.
- Check the Pharmacy: Visit Ebisuko Pharmacy in the Jinnai Station area. It's the only one inside a "standard" retail shop that isn't part of a scripted event.
- The Camera Prompt is King: If the "Take Photo" icon (usually a prompt on the bottom of the screen) doesn't appear, the photo won't count. Ensure the statue is centered.
- Talk to Hiro: Once you have all ten, you must return to the Part-time Hero representative at any of the locations (like the one near the Hello Work building) to actually trigger the reward. It doesn't just deposit into your account.
The 2 million yen is best spent at the Romance Workshop. Use it to upgrade the "Hero’s Bat" to its EX version or buy the high-tier materials like Gold Plate or Raw Platinum Ore. That money is the difference between struggling against the boss at the end of Chapter 12 and breezing through it with a weapon that hits like a freight train.
Finding the statues is a lesson in patience. It's about slowing down and actually looking at Yokohama instead of just sprinting to the next red objective marker.