While searching for Kitsune, you’ll reach the Hideout of the Nine-Tails. Here’s how to solve every Fox puzzle and fully explore the hideout.
During the Kitsune quest in Ghost of Yotei, you’ll eventually arrive at the Nine-Tails Hideout. This area features several puzzles where you need to correctly position and align different fox statues. In this guide, you’ll learn how to enter the hideout and solve every fox statue puzzle step by step.
Nine Tails Hideout: Light the Correct Lanterns
At the very start, you’ll find two fox statues in front of the hideout entrance. Several lanterns are placed around you, but only two of them matter.
Pick up a torch and light the two lanterns on the left and right – the ones with foxes on top. Ignore the other lanterns. Once the two correct lanterns are lit, a secret passage opens and takes you inside the hideout.
Inner Fight: Defeat the Enemies to Proceed
In the next section, a cramped room full of enemies awaits- about five to six foes, including shield-bearers and ranged attackers. Tip: Swap between your katana and dual katanas to carve through the group quickly. After defeating them, you’ll see several Nine-Tailed Foxes escaping up the wall. Your goal now is to follow them.
Gate Puzzle: Find Two Fox Statues in the Snow
To pursue the fleeing foxes, find two fox statues and place them on the left and right sides in front of the large gate.
- The first statue is far left against the wall in the snow.
- The second stands to the right, near a tree and some scattered objects.
They’re hard to miss. Once both are positioned correctly, the large gate opens—this is your path upward. Climb rocks and wooden planks and use your grappling hook until you reach an open building.
Scroll Puzzle: Copy and Interpret the Symbols
Four fox statues are in front of the building – ignore them for now. Head inside to find a table with a scroll showing several symbols.
Use your controller’s touchpad to trace them, but you’ll be ambushed first. Defeat the attackers, then study and copy the symbols. You’ll need them for the statues outside.
Ghost of Yotei Nine Tails Hideout: Only One Statue Leads Outside
In the same room, you’ll find four more fox statues. Watch their symbols closely:
- Three statues share the same mark – signifying death.
- One statue, right by the front door, shows a different mark that resembles an “M” and indicates interaction.
- Important: Interact only with this one statue to exit the house. Touching any of the others sets you on fire—so save first! Heal immediately if you slip up.
Outside, you’ll need to fight through two more waves before moving on.
Outdoor Symbol Puzzle: Align the Statues
After clearing the enemies, you’ll face the four fox statues again beneath a wooden structure.
Now align them according to the symbols you copied from the scroll.
- Open your map (swipe left).
- Check the symbols beneath each statue and rotate them toward north, east, south, or west.
- The dragonfly points downward, the square to the left, the circle to the right, and the triangle toward the wall.
When all statues are aligned correctly, a ladder appears that you can climb.
Climb the ladder to claim your reward: the Shinobi Armor. Equip it right away – it offers great stats and looks stylish.
The Dye House: Tunnel and Statue Alignment
Return to Oyuki at the inn and follow the main story about Chosuke. Then head to the Dye House. There’s another puzzle here. Place the first fox on the left pedestal at the top and rotate the vat cover so the arrow on the square symbol points left. Go right, place the fox on the pedestal, and rotate the circle symbol to the right. Now lift the middle lid to access a tunnel.
In the tunnel, free the prisoners and defeat the two guards watching the passage. To reach the far side, rotate the statue to the right – this tightens a rope you can walk across.
Once you’re across, open the prisoners’ cells and align the four statues in the center of the cave. Use the symbols you saw in the cells. From left to right, turn the foxes as follows:
- Sitting fox: facing forward
- Sitting fox with raised paw: facing right
- Lying fox: facing right
- Crouching fox: facing left
If everything is aligned correctly, the locked door will open, revealing another cipher. Bring it back to Oyuki at the Dye House and talk to the dye master. Then follow the trail to the camp.
Camp Puzzles: Lanterns and Statue Shadows
Shortly after, another puzzle awaits – this time with lanterns you need to light. Watch the fox statues on the pedestals: only light the lanterns in front of identical statues. That means: front left, middle right, and back right. If you got it right, the path leads deeper into the forest.
Forest Puzzle: Three Statues and the Cipher
In the forest, another fox statue puzzle from the Nine-Tailed Hideout awaits. Align three statues correctly to unlock the way forward. Use the cipher you collected and check the nearby rock symbols for guidance.
- Left fox looks right
- Middle fox faces away from you
- Right fox looks left
