The Ace Archer: Arashiyama story quest in Onimusha: Way of the Sword sends Musashi into the swamp to shoot down five Kubi Akari. These are flying Genma that drift above the battlefield rather than blocking your path, so the trees, buildings, and terrain constantly get in the way of a shot. The quest marks each target with a notebook icon on the map, which gives you a general location, but you still have to reposition and track the target before you can hit it.
Quick answer: Equip the Oni Bow and shoot all five Kubi Akari flying over the Arashiyama swamp, then return to the NPC woman at Shijo Street in Eastern Kyoto to close the quest.
Start Ace Archer: Arashiyama at Shijo Street
Head to Shijo Street and speak to the NPC woman there. She tells Musashi she has seen monstrous creatures flying around Arashiyama and asks him to clear them out. Once the conversation ends, the objective updates to Hunt the Kubi Akari at Arashiyama (0/5), and the five targets appear as notebook icons on your map.
You can defeat the targets in any order, so there is no fixed route to follow. The numbering below simply makes each location easier to describe. Because the Kubi Akari spend most of their time in the air, listen for them as you approach each marker and tilt the camera upward to spot them among the branches and rooftops.
All five Kubi Akari locations at Arashiyama
Use the table for a fast overview of where each target sits, then read the details below for how to reach and line up each shot.
| Target | Where it flies |
|---|---|
| #1 | Above the fallen tree near the Oni Shortcut |
| #2 | Over a Genma-infested clearing further along |
| #3 | Past the Byakue mini-boss, across a yellow trail |
| #4 | Close to #3, visible from a distance |
| #5 | Inside a building near the ceiling |
Kubi Akari #1: Near the Oni Shortcut
Start from the Oni Shortcut in the swamp, close to the Spirit Mirror: Bamboo Path, and follow the marker until you reach an area with fallen bamboo fences, hay bundles, and a fallen tree arching over the debris. You should hear the Kubi Akari as you get near.
Move a little further in and tilt the camera up. The target is flying above the fallen tree, partly hidden by leaves and branches, and it keeps moving. Track it for a few seconds, wait for it to enter a clear gap, then equip the Oni Bow and shoot it down.
Kubi Akari #2: Above the Genma clearing
Continue toward the next notebook marker. You will reach an area crawling with Genma, so clear them out first before you try to find the target. The second Kubi Akari hovers above this clearing and becomes visible once you look upward.
Depending on where you stand, it may be too far away or blocked by the environment. If the shot will not line up, move around and look for higher ground. Once you have a clear line of sight, aim the Oni Bow and take it down.
Kubi Akari #3: Past the Byakue mini-boss
Follow the marker deeper into the Arashiyama swamp and you will trigger a mini-boss fight against Byakue. Defeat it and keep walking until Hitotsume Gasa enemies begin firing arrows at Musashi.
Deal with the immediate threats, then look for the yellow trail beside the mountain. Use your Oni Power to slide across to the other side, clear the Genma waiting there, and look up. The third Kubi Akari is floating in the sky above. Shoot it with the Oni Bow.
Kubi Akari #4: Close to the third target
The fourth Kubi Akari sits near the third one. Keep following the map marker with your eyes on the sky, and you should spot it from a distance as you approach. Once you are within range, line up the Oni Bow and shoot it down.
If you cannot get a clean shot, keep moving instead of firing repeatedly from a bad angle. The Kubi Akari keeps flying around, so a better position will open up.
Kubi Akari #5: Inside the building
The final target is different from the other four because it is inside a building rather than out over the swamp. After clearing the Genma ambush near the fourth target, follow the last quest marker toward the structure.
Another group of Genma will ambush you as you approach, so defeat them before entering. Once the area is clear, go inside and look at the roof. The fifth Kubi Akari hovers near the ceiling. Aim the Oni Bow and shoot it to finish the set.
Complete the quest at Shijo Street
When the last target is down, the objective reads 5/5 and all five markers clear from the map. Return to the NPC woman who gave you the request at Shijo Street in Eastern Kyoto and speak to her again. Reporting back finishes Ace Archer: Arashiyama. If you ever lose track of a target while hunting, open the map and use the notebook icons instead of wandering the swamp.
