Honestly, if you've been wandering around the Izumi Coast in Assassin's Creed Shadows and stumbled upon a weird, massive earthen mound, you've probably found the Old Kofun. It’s one of those spots that feels completely different from the bustling markets of Sakai or the sprawling heights of Himeji Castle. It’s quiet. It's dark. And if you aren't prepared, it’s a total headache.
Most players treat these as simple "loot rooms," but that’s a mistake. These aren't just holes in the ground with a chest at the bottom. In Shadows, the Old Kofun serves as your "Welcome to Tomb Raiding" moment, but it’s steeped in way more historical weirdness than the game lets on at first glance.
Why the Old Kofun is More Than Just a Cave
The term Kofun actually refers to megalithic tombs from ancient Japan—specifically the 3rd to 7th centuries. By the time Naoe and Yasuke are running around in the late 1500s, these places were already a thousand years old. They were ancient ruins even to the people of the Sengoku period.
In the game, the Old Kofun is located east of Sakai. It’s basically the first one you’ll find. But don’t just rush in. This is a Naoe-exclusive area. If you try to roll up with Yasuke, you’re going to be staring at a narrow crack in the rocks wondering why the "big guy" can't just smash through. He can't. You need Naoe’s agility and her grappling hook.
Navigating the Dark: A Survival Guide
It is dark in there. Like, really dark.
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If you’re playing with HDR on, the lighting engine in Assassin’s Creed Shadows makes these tombs look beautiful but practically impossible to navigate without a strategy. You have to light the candles. It sounds like a chore, but it’s the only way to track where you’ve been. Think of it like a breadcrumb trail made of fire.
The Layout of the Old Kofun
Once you squeeze through that southeastern crevice, the path is anything but straight. You’ll hit a room with a sarcophagus early on. Most people grab the small chest on the left and think they’re done. Look closer. There’s a crawl space.
- The First Pit: You’ll eventually reach a drop-off with two plateaus. It looks intimidating, but it’s just water at the bottom. Use the grappling hook to swing across. If you fall, no big deal—just swim to the ledge and try again.
- The Underwater Tunnel: This is the part that catches people off guard. There’s a pool that looks like a dead end. You actually have to dive and swim northwest through a submerged tunnel.
- The Legendary Chest: The goal here is the Amaterasu’s Blessing. It’s a Legendary Trinket.
The perk on this thing is wild: it gives you +10% damage for every unused ability slot. If you’re a "keep it simple" player who doesn't use a full wheel of skills, this trinket makes Naoe an absolute glass cannon.
The Secret Exit Strategy
Don’t backtrack. Seriously, don’t.
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Once you’ve looted the Legendary Chest, the game pulls a classic "Metroidvania" move. To the left of the chest, there are some shadowy cliffs you can climb. You’ll end up at a bamboo gate that looks locked. It tells you "this area is not available yet," which is super confusing.
Look to your right. See those red explosive barrels? Toss a kunai or a shuriken at them. The explosion clears a path that leads you right back to the start of the dungeon. It’s a shortcut that saves you ten minutes of swimming and climbing in the dark.
Historical Realism vs. Ubisoft Style
There’s a bit of a debate among history buffs about how these tombs are portrayed. Real kofun are usually much simpler—often just a single stone chamber. Ubisoft, being Ubisoft, turned them into labyrinthine vaults with platforming puzzles.
Is it "accurate"? Not really.
Is it "fun"? Absolutely.
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The game links these tombs to the deeper lore of the Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins. You’ll find journals suggesting that the Assassins used these ancient sites as hideouts for centuries. It makes sense; who’s going to go poking around a thousand-year-old cursed burial mound?
What to Do Next
If you’ve successfully cleared the Old Kofun, you’ve basically learned the mechanics for the other nine tombs scattered across Japan. But they get harder.
- Switch Characters: Check your map frequently. While the Old Kofun is for Naoe, places like the Makino Kurumazuka Kofun require Yasuke’s strength to move heavy crates and blow up boulders.
- Check the Icons: Hover over a Kofun icon on your map. If you see a small hood, it’s Naoe’s. If it’s a samurai helmet, it’s Yasuke’s.
- Scale Your Loot: Remember that the gear you find scales to your current level. If you’re struggling with the game’s difficulty, wait until you’re a few levels higher to open the chests in the more difficult regions like Yamato or Kii.
The Old Kofun isn't just a checkbox on a map. It’s your introduction to the verticality and atmosphere that defines the Iga sub-region. Take your time, light the candles, and don't forget to blow up the back door on your way out.