You’re riding through the thick, purple-hued forests of Iki Island. Wind is howling. You’ve already sliced through a dozen Mongol shamans, and your map is mostly cleared. But then you see it. A small, wooden sign with a monkey on it. You bow. Nothing happens. You play the flute. Still nothing.
This is the start of one of the most specific, easily missed achievements in the Director’s Cut of Sucker Punch’s masterpiece. The Monkey See Ghost of Tsushima hidden trophy (officially titled "Monkey See") isn't just a simple interaction. It’s a three-part environmental puzzle located at Saruiwa that requires you to physically mimic the "Three Wise Monkeys" at specific shrines. Honestly, if you don't know exactly where to stand or what emote to trigger, you’ll spend an hour running in circles around a giant rock formation for no reason.
It’s subtle. It’s missable. And it’s one of the coolest nods to Japanese folklore in the entire game.
Finding Saruiwa: The Journey to Monkey Rock
The whole thing takes place at Saruiwa, located on the southwestern tip of Iki Island. If you haven't been there yet, look for a massive, craggy mountain that looks—unsurprisingly—a bit like a sitting monkey.
Getting there is easy. Getting up is the chore. You’re going to be doing a lot of grappling and shimmying. The path starts between two stone monkey statues at the base of the mountain. You’ll see a narrow gap in the cliffside. Squeeze through. From here, the game stops holding your hand. There aren't waypoint markers for these specific shrines. You have to keep your eyes peeled for the "Monkey See" signs that indicate a nearby interaction point.
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The first time I did this, I walked right past the second shrine because it's tucked away on a ledge you’d only notice if you were looking for a place to jump.
The Three Shrines: Mimicking the Wise Monkeys
The trophy is based on the "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" trio. To get the Monkey See Ghost of Tsushima achievement to pop, Jin has to perform an action at three distinct monkey statues scattered along the climbing path of Saruiwa.
The Hear No Evil Statue
As you begin your ascent, look for a spot where you can grapple across a gap. You’ll eventually hit a ledge with a stone monkey covering its ears. This is the "Hear no evil" station. Most players try to bow here because that’s the default reaction for most hidden altars in Tsushima. Don't do that. Instead, pull out Jin’s flute. Swipe left on the touchpad and play any melody. You’ll know you’ve done it right when the screen flashes and a ghostly wind swirls around you.
The See No Evil Statue
Keep climbing. You’ll need to do some more grappling-hook gymnastics to reach a lower ledge on the cliff face. You’re looking for a monkey covering its eyes. This one is arguably the trickiest because you have to use a "Smoke Bomb." Throw it right in front of the statue. Jin disappears in a cloud of grey, effectively "blinding" himself to match the monkey’s pose.
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It feels a bit weird to waste a tool on a statue. Do it anyway.
The Speak No Evil Statue
Continue to the very top. Or rather, near the summit. You’ll find the third monkey covering its mouth. To "speak no evil" (or rather, to signal silence/reverence), you need to perform a bow. Swipe down on the touchpad. If you’ve followed the sequence correctly, the trophy should trigger almost immediately after the third interaction.
Why People Struggle With This Trophy
Most of the frustration comes from the verticality of Saruiwa. If you fall—and you probably will if you’re rushing—you might lose track of which statues you’ve already hit.
The game doesn't give you a checklist.
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There is no UI element that says "1/3 Monkeys Mimicked." You just have to remember. Also, some players get confused by the "Monkey Sanctuary" nearby. While the Sanctuary is a great place to pet a few macaques and get some Charms, it has absolutely nothing to do with the "Monkey See" trophy itself. One is a side activity; the other is a hidden environmental puzzle.
The Connection to Japanese Culture
Sucker Punch didn't just pull this out of thin air. The Three Wise Monkeys—Mizaru, Kikazaru, and Iwazaru—are a staple of Japanese iconography, most famously depicted at the Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō.
In the context of Ghost of Tsushima, these puzzles serve as a quiet break from the heavy, often depressing narrative of the Mongol invasion. It’s a moment of levity. It’s Jin Sakai, a hardened killer, taking a second to play a flute or throw a smoke bomb for a stone carving. It adds a layer of "lived-in" mysticism to Iki Island that the mainland sometimes lacks.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't skip the flute: Some people try to use the "Wind" mechanic to trigger the "Hear no evil" statue. It won't work. It has to be the flute.
- The Order Matters (Sort of): While you can technically do them in different orders if you’re a master at climbing, the natural path of the mountain leads you from Ears, to Eyes, to Mouth. If you miss one, it’s a pain to climb back down without dying.
- The "Monkey See" Sign: Always look for the small wooden sign near the statues. If there’s no sign, it’s just a decorative rock, and you’re wasting your smoke bombs.
Actionable Steps for Completionists
If you’re hunting the Platinum or just trying to 100% Iki Island, follow this specific workflow to ensure the trophy pops without a headache:
- Stock up on Smoke Bombs: You only need one, but Iki is dangerous. Don't get caught at the top of a mountain with an empty inventory.
- Fast Travel to the Saruiwa Pillar of Honor: This is the closest point to the base of the mountain.
- Look for the "Monkey See" signposts: These are your only real guideposts. If you see a wooden sign with a monkey carving, stop and look around for the statue.
- Check your Trophy List: If the trophy hasn't popped after the third statue, you likely missed the "visual cue." Each successful interaction results in a brief, ethereal particle effect. If you didn't see the screen glow, the game didn't register the action.
Once you finish this, head to the very peak of Saruiwa. There’s a beautiful view and a couple of other collectibles nearby, including a Bamboo Strike. It makes the long trek up the mountain worth the effort even beyond the trophy. Reach the summit, take in the view of the ocean, and enjoy the fact that you’ve conquered one of the most cryptic secrets Iki Island has to offer.