Quick answer
The Oni Refuge entrance is not opened by attacking the front gate. During A Strength in Refuge, go around the building beside the locked entrance, climb the outside ladder, and enter through the small upper window. Inside, leave the building and turn toward the courtyard gate. Follow the fence to the broken section on the left, aim through the gap at the padlock on the far side, and shoot it with the Oni Bow. Return to the gate and open it, then follow the Enter the well objective.
When this route appears
Use this page when your current objective says to look for the entrance to the Oni Refuge during A Strength in Refuge. The mission sequence moves from the conversation and hidden Oni power search to the entrance search, then to Enter the well. That objective order explains why the gate can look like a dead end: the first visible gate is not meant to be opened from the side where you initially approach it.
The useful anchors are the Eastern Kyoto objective area, the adjacent building, the exterior ladder, the small window, and the courtyard gate. If your screen shows a different mission or you have not reached the entrance-search objective, use Missions first instead of repeating the gate route.
Route at a glance
| What you see | Correct action | Success check |
|---|---|---|
| Locked entrance with no usable front interaction | Walk around the building beside it | You are beside an exterior ladder |
| Small upper window above the side route | Climb the ladder and enter through the window | You drop inside the building |
| Courtyard gate after leaving the building | Turn left and follow the fence | You reach a broken fence section |
| Lock visible beyond the fence | Aim through the gap and shoot the far-side padlock with the Oni Bow | The lock is destroyed |
| Gate still closed after the shot | Walk back to the gate and interact with it | The courtyard opens and the well objective begins |
Step-by-step solution
1. Leave the front approach
When the entrance appears locked, do not spend time striking the gate or searching for a key on the same side. Move around the building next to the entrance. The route is an exterior bypass, not a front-door interaction.
2. Climb the outside ladder
Look for the ladder on the outside of the adjacent building. Climb it to the upper level. The ladder is the route marker: if you are still standing in front of the original gate, you have not moved far enough around the building.
3. Enter through the small window
At the top of the ladder, use the small window to enter the building. This is a short traversal step, not a hidden collectible route. Once inside, drop down and leave the building toward the courtyard.
4. Find the second gate
After leaving the building, turn left toward the next closed gate. This courtyard gate is the actual obstacle for the entrance route. It is separate from the first locked entrance, so reaching the building interior does not complete the objective.
5. Use the broken fence as the shooting position
Follow the fence to the left side of the courtyard gate. Find the broken section. The gap is a viewing and aiming position: it lets you see the padlock on the far side of the gate without requiring you to enter the courtyard first.
6. Shoot the far-side padlock
Equip or select the Oni Bow, aim through the broken fence, and shoot the padlock behind the gate. The important detail is the direction of the shot. You are not shooting the near side of the gate or trying to fire through a solid section of fence; you need the line of sight created by the broken opening.
7. Return to the gate
After the padlock breaks, walk back to the courtyard gate and interact with it. The objective does not end at the moment the arrow hits the lock. Opening the gate is the confirmation that the route has worked. Once inside, continue with Enter the well.
If the gate still appears locked
Use the following checks instead of circling the entire area:
- Confirm that the active mission is A Strength in Refuge and that the objective is to look for the Oni Refuge entrance.
- Make sure you climbed the exterior ladder and entered through the small window. The first building entrance is part of the route, not the destination.
- After leaving the building, turn left. The courtyard gate is the second gate you encounter.
- Move to the broken fence section on the gate’s left side. From there, the far-side padlock should be visible.
- Shoot the padlock with the Oni Bow, then return to the gate and interact with it.
If the objective has already changed to Enter the well, the entrance step is complete even if you are still orienting yourself outside the courtyard. Follow the new objective rather than repeating the arrow shot.
What this page does and does not cover
Use this route for the entrance stuck point: side ladder, window entry, courtyard gate, broken-fence angle, Oni Bow shot, and the handoff to the well courtyard. Once inside, switch to Walkthrough for route progression and Collectibles for later pickups.
For story order, continue to the Walkthrough. For objective names and prerequisites, use Missions. If the route leads into a fight and you need defensive timing, see Combat and the Issen guide.
FAQ
Can I open the first gate from the front?
No. Use the adjacent building’s exterior ladder and small upper window to reach the courtyard side of the route.
Which gate do I shoot?
Shoot the padlock on the far side of the courtyard gate. Reach it by aiming through the broken fence section to the gate’s left.
Do I need the Oni Bow?
Yes. The route requires shooting the far-side padlock with the Oni Bow.
What happens after I open the gate?
Enter the courtyard and follow the Enter the well objective. The page ends at this handoff.
Is the well itself covered here?
Only the entrance to the well courtyard is covered. Use the main Walkthrough and the relevant mission page for the continuation.
