Finding yourself lost near the Lanayru Promenade? It happens. Honestly, the geography around Mount Lanayru is a nightmare of vertical cliffs and confusing ruins that all look identical after an hour of climbing. If you are hunting for every single Bubbulfrog in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you've probably realized that Lanayru Road East Cave is one of those spots that feels like it should be obvious but somehow stays hidden right under your nose.
It's tucked away.
Specifically, you’re looking for a spot along the flooded remains of the Lanayru Road, east of the Promenade and west of the actual mountain base. Most people just glide over it. They miss the entrance because they’re too busy staring at the dragons or trying to figure out how to get to the Spring of Wisdom without freezing to death. But this cave matters. Not just for the 100% completion mark, but because it’s a prime example of how Nintendo uses environmental storytelling to hide resources in plain sight.
Locating Lanayru Road East Cave Without Losing Your Mind
Coordinates are great, but let’s talk landmarks. You want to head to the coordinates (2671, -1202, 0113). If you look at your map, follow the path leading from the Lanayru Promenade toward the Great Spring. The road is broken, shattered by the Upheaval, and mostly underwater.
The entrance is at ground level—or water level, really. It’s on the north side of the road. Look for the telltale glowing Blupee. If you see that little blue rabbit darting into a crack in the rocks, you’re in the right place.
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Inside, it’s damp. You’ll see those familiar glowing mushrooms and the mossy textures that define the Lanayru region’s underground. Unlike the sprawling systems under Central Hyrule, this one is relatively linear, but it has a verticality that can trip you up if you aren’t paying attention to the ceiling.
The Bubbulfrog Hunt
Every cave hunter is really here for the gem. The Bubbulfrog in Lanayru Road East Cave isn't exactly a boss fight, but the room layout is designed to make you do a double-take.
Once you enter, you’ll deal with some standard cave fare. Keese. Maybe a Like Like if the game is feeling particularly spicy that day. To find the frog, you need to look for a breakable rock wall. This is a recurring theme in Tears of the Kingdom—if a cave feels too short, start swinging a claymore fused with a boulder.
- Enter the main chamber.
- Clear out the initial enemies so they don't knock you off the walls.
- Look for the sediment blockage.
- Use a bomb flower or a blunt weapon.
The Bubbulfrog is usually chilling on the ceiling of the hidden back chamber. One arrow to the face, collect your Bubbul Gem, and you’re technically done. But leaving immediately is a mistake. There's more stuff here.
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Why This Specific Cave Frustrates Completionists
The "Lanayru Road" naming convention is a trap. There’s a South Cave, an East Cave, and various other grottoes nearby. Many players end up in the Lanayru Road South Cave thinking they’ve checked the box for the "Road" area, only to realize later that the map still shows a missing checkmark.
It’s about the layers.
In Breath of the Wild, this area was mostly about the memory at the gates. In Tears of the Kingdom, it’s been repurposed into a three-dimensional scavenger hunt. The East Cave is lower than you think. If you’re paragliding from the Mount Lanayru Skyview Tower, you will almost certainly fly right over the top of the entrance. You have to drop down into the canyon, right into the muddy, shallow water of the old road.
Resource Farming
Don't just grab the gem and warp out. This cave is a reliable spot for Brightcaps and Chillshrooms. Given that you’re right on the edge of a cold biome, stocking up on Chillshrooms might seem counterintuitive, but they’re essential for heat-resistance elixirs if you’re planning to head toward the Gerudo Desert next.
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Also, check the ore deposits. Lanayru caves tend to have a higher density of Luminous Stone. While Luminous Stone isn't the rarest resource, it's the primary currency for upgrading certain armor sets and trading with the Zora. It's basically free money sitting on the walls.
Dealing with the Environment
The Lanayru Road East Cave is wet. This sounds like a minor detail until you try to climb a wall to reach a chest and realize you don't have the Froggy Armor set yet.
Slip-resistance is the name of the game here. If you haven't completed the "Lucky Clover Gazette" quests to get the slip-proof gear, you'll want to cook up some Sticky Lizards or Sticky Frogs.
- Pro Tip: If you’re out of elixirs, use the "Rocket Shield" trick. Fuse a rocket to your shield, hold ZL, and blast yourself upward to bypass the slippery walls entirely. It’s faster and saves you the frustration of sliding down 5 feet for every 6 feet you climb.
The Lore Connection
Why is there a cave system here at all? If you look at the ruins of the Promenade, it’s clear this was once a major thoroughfare for the Zora and Hylians. The caves along the road likely served as drainage or storage during the era of the ancient Kingdom. Finding these "East" and "South" extensions gives you a sense of just how much the earth shifted during the Upheaval. The road didn't just break; the ground literally opened up.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re sitting at your Switch right now, follow this sequence to knock this out in under five minutes.
- Fast Travel: Go to the Jogou Shrine or the Mount Lanayru Skyview Tower.
- The Descent: Aim for the coordinates (2671, -1202, 0113). If you’re coming from the tower, glide west-northwest.
- Preparation: Bring at least three bomb flowers or a couple of rusted claymores fused with rocks. There are walls to break.
- The Kill: Hit the Bubbulfrog once. Don't waste your high-damage arrows; a basic wooden arrow is plenty.
- The Loot: Grab the Luminous Stones and Brightcaps. Check behind the Bubbulfrog's position for a hidden chest—usually containing a mid-tier weapon like a Zora Spear or a Soldier’s Broadsword.
Once the checkmark appears on your map icon for the Lanayru Road East Cave, you’re safe to move on. Head further east into the Lanayru Range if you’re still missing the Shrines in the snow, or head back west to the Promenade to finish off any remaining side quests in the ruins. The key is to stay low in the canyon; the cave isn't going to show itself to anyone sticking to the high ground.