You probably remember Hateno Village from Breath of the Wild as that cozy, rolling-hill retreat where you bought a house and maybe dyed your tunic a questionable shade of neon purple. It was peaceful. It was simple. Fast forward to Tears of the Kingdom, and the vibe has shifted in a way that’s honestly kind of jarring at first. Gone is the sleepy rural atmosphere, replaced by a neon-pink explosion of mushroom-themed haute couture.
The town is obsessed with Cece.
Hateno Village in Tears of the Kingdom isn't just a waypoint anymore; it’s a living, breathing political drama wrapped in a fashion crisis. While Lookout Landing handles the military stuff and Goron City deals with literal rock-drugs, Hateno is busy having an identity crisis. It represents the struggle between traditionalist farmers and the new wave of "influencer" culture that’s sweeping Hyrule. It's weirdly relatable. If you’ve spent any time exploring the Necluda region, you know that this village holds more utility for Link than almost any other location in the game. From upgrading your Purah Pad to literally deciding the political future of the region, Hateno is the heartbeat of the endgame.
The Great Hateno Election: More Than Just Mushrooms
Most people head to Hateno thinking they’ll just grab some Hylian Rice and leave. Then they see the giant mushrooms. The mayoral race between the incumbent Reede and the fashionista Cece is easily one of the most involved side adventures in the entire game. It's called "The Mayoral Election," but it’s really a series of interconnected quests that force you to look at how the Upheaval has changed the people of Hyrule.
Reede wants to stick to farming. He's worried about food security—valid, honestly, considering there are floating islands in the sky and monsters everywhere. Cece, on the other hand, wants to turn the town into a world-class fashion destination. She’s the one behind the "Cece Hat," that flamboyant piece of headwear you see everyone wearing.
To resolve this, you have to do some genuine detective work. You’ll be handing out mushrooms to "undecided voters," which feels like a parody of real-world door-knocking campaigns. You also have to sneak around at night to uncover the secret habits of both candidates. It turns out Reede is secretly trying to develop a new type of pumpkin, while Cece is... well, she’s secretly eating vegetables because she’s tired of her own high-fashion brand’s image. It’s a hilarious bit of humanization.
📖 Related: Catching the Blue Marlin in Animal Crossing: Why This Giant Fish Is So Hard to Find
The payoff is huge. Completing this storyline unlocks the ability to lower your Hylian Hood—a cosmetic choice fans begged for—and gives you access to Cece’s shop, where you can rebuy unique armor pieces you might have accidentally sold.
The Hateno Research Lab: Your Tech Hub
If you’re wondering why your Purah Pad feels underpowered, it’s because you haven't spent enough time at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab. It sits way up on the hill, overlooking the town. Robbie has moved in here, and he is the key to some of the most essential quality-of-life upgrades in the game.
You need the Sensor+. Period.
Trying to find specific materials like Hearty Truffles or high-tier monster parts without the sensor is a nightmare. Robbie also handles the Hero’s Path mode, which shows you exactly where you’ve walked for the last 256 hours of gameplay. It’s the ultimate "where did I miss a shrine?" tool. Then there’s the Travel Medallion. In Tears of the Kingdom, you can eventually get three of them. Being able to drop a teleport point anywhere—like at the top of a sky island or right outside a Gleeok den—changes how you play.
The Schoolhouse and the Secret of Hylian Rice
Hateno is also home to the only school in Hyrule. Symin, who worked with Purah in the last game, is now a teacher. Helping him with his lessons isn't just flavor text. It’s a multi-part quest involving time travel (sort of) and cooking.
👉 See also: Ben 10 Ultimate Cosmic Destruction: Why This Game Still Hits Different
The kids are skeptical. They want to know why they should care about the Calamity when there are bigger problems now. You end up having to travel to Kakariko Village to photograph a screen depicting the events of 10,000 years ago. Once you finish these quests, you unlock the Hateno school garden. This is a game-changer for players who hate foraging. You can talk to Uma and have her grow specific crops for you over time. Want a steady supply of Endura Carrots or Radishes? This is where you get them. It turns the game from a survival sim into a bit of Stardew Valley.
Why the Dye Shop Still Matters
Sayge is still running the Kochi Dye Shop, and he’s still as eccentric as ever. But in Tears of the Kingdom, the dye shop has a new, critical function: Paraglider fabrics.
Throughout the game, you’ll find different fabrics—some from Amiibo, some from completing specific challenges (like the Hudson Construction quests or the various stables). Sayge can swap these out for a small fee of 20 Rupees. He can also use "inspiration" from photos you take. If you take a picture of a Chuchu or a Gleeok, he can make a custom fabric based on that creature. It’s a small detail, but when you spend half the game paragliding, looking at the same old blue cloth gets boring.
Secret Entrances and the Well System
Hyrule is full of wells now, and Hateno’s wells are particularly interesting. There’s a whole network under the village. One of them leads to Zelda’s secret study.
Wait, Zelda’s study?
✨ Don't miss: Why Batman Arkham City Still Matters More Than Any Other Superhero Game
Yeah, if you go to the house you bought in the first game, it’s now clearly Zelda’s house. Link apparently... lives there too? Or moved out? The game is a bit coy about the living arrangements, but Zelda’s diary is there. It explains that she commissioned the construction of the school and was working on a way to make the "Well-Trained" tunic (the new Champion's Leathers). Following the clues in her diary leads you to the throne room in Hyrule Castle, but the emotional weight starts here, in Hateno. It grounds the high-fantasy stakes in something personal. You see her desk. You see her flowers. You realize she wasn't just a princess; she was a civil leader trying to rebuild a town.
Essential Tips for Hateno Village
To make the most of this location, don't just sprint to the yellow quest markers. Hateno rewards the slow player.
- Check the General Store: They sell Hylian Rice and Bird Eggs. These are staples for high-level recipes. If you’re trying to make a defense-up meal that lasts 30 minutes, you’re going to need these.
- The Milk Farm: Head up the path towards the lab to find the pasture. Dantz needs help with acorns to feed his cows. In exchange, he gives you Fresh Milk. Combine this with the Hateno cheese you unlock through the election questline to make some of the best stat-boosting food in the game.
- Cheese is Life: Once you finish "A Letter to Koyin," you unlock the Hateno Cheese Shop. This isn't just for show. Cheese can be added to almost any recipe to boost its healing properties significantly. It’s one of the few "new" ingredients that feels genuinely impactful for high-level play.
- The Goddess Statue: There’s one inside the Mayor’s house. Most people forget it’s there because it’s tucked away in a corner, but it’s much faster to reach than the one in the Temple of Time if you’re already in town for gear upgrades.
What Most People Get Wrong About Hateno
A lot of players think Hateno is a "mid-game" area. Honestly? It's an "every-game" area.
If you rush the main quest, you miss the fact that Hateno provides the infrastructure for your success. The Purah Pad upgrades alone save you hours of aimless wandering. The garden saves you hours of farming. The dye shop and Cece’s boutique give you the only real sense of character expression in a world that can otherwise feel very "standard hero."
It’s also the only place that feels like it’s actually recovering from the war. While the rest of the world is struggling with the literal cracks in the earth, Hateno is arguing about whether mushrooms are "in" this season. It’s a bit of levity that makes the darker parts of the game feel more earned.
Actionable Next Steps for Players
If you’ve just arrived or haven't visited in a while, do these three things in order:
- Talk to Cece immediately. Starting the election questline is a long process that takes you all over the village. You want to get those gears turning early.
- Upgrade the Sensor. Go to the lab, talk to Robbie, and get your sensor set to "Shrine." It makes navigating the mountainous Necluda region 100% easier.
- Find Zelda’s Secret Well. It’s behind the house on the outskirts. The items and lore inside are essential for understanding where the "new" Link fits into this world.
Hateno Village is the soul of Tears of the Kingdom. It’s where the game stops being a series of combat encounters and starts feeling like a world worth saving. Spend the time there. Buy the cheese. Wear the mushroom hat. It’s worth it.