Nioh 3: Unlock Gate at Mikatagahara Junction Shrine to Hamamatsu Hills Enemy Base

What to know

• The Hamamatsu Hills enemy base gate requires a specific key.
• The key is obtained after completing the “Fated Land” quest in Iinoya.
• You must defeat a boss at Ryotan Temple to progress the questline.
• Naotora rewards the key after dialogue at Hamamatsu Castle Keep.

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If you’ve reached the Mikatagahara Junction Shrine in Nioh 3 and discovered a locked gate leading toward the Hamamatsu Hills enemy base, you’re not missing a hidden lever or side path nearby. The gate is progression-locked. The key is tied directly to story advancement in the next region and requires completing a specific mission chain before returning.

Understanding how this unlock works saves time and prevents unnecessary backtracking.

Quick overview of the gate unlock process

Requirement	Location	Outcome
Reach Iinoya region	World progression	Unlock access to Ryotan Temple
Complete “Fated Land” quest	Ryotan Temple	Defeat boss and trigger NPC progression
Speak to Naotora	Hamamatsu Castle Keep	Receive gate key
Return to Mikatagahara Junction Shrine	Hamamatsu Hills	Unlock enemy base gate

The unlock is sequential. Skipping steps is not possible, as the key only appears after exhausting the relevant NPC dialogue.

Why the gate is locked at Mikatagahara Junction Shrine

The gate near Mikatagahara Junction Shrine is part of the Hamamatsu Hills enemy base access route. It serves as a shortcut and structured encounter entrance rather than an optional detour. The developers designed it to remain inaccessible until you have narrative clearance and the appropriate key item.

This ensures that the enemy base section is approached at the intended difficulty level and after certain faction developments unfold in the story.

The shrine itself functions normally for leveling and checkpoint purposes, but the nearby gate remains inactive until the key is acquired through the Iinoya questline.

Progressing to Iinoya and accessing Ryotan Temple

After advancing beyond the Hamamatsu Hills segment, the story leads you into the Iinoya region. Within this region, Ryotan Temple becomes a central quest location tied to the “Fated Land” mission.

Ryotan Temple contains a shrine that serves as the staging ground for a boss encounter required to continue the gate unlock chain. You must initiate and complete the “Fated Land” quest here.

The structure of this segment works as follows:

Stage	Area	Objective
Entry into Iinoya	World Map	Unlock new region
Travel to Ryotan Temple	Iinoya	Initiate “Fated Land”
Shrine-based encounter	Ryotan Temple	Defeat designated boss
Quest completion	Temple interior	Trigger follow-up dialogue

The boss fight at Ryotan Temple is mandatory. Without completing it, the NPC dialogue progression will not unlock the key reward.

Completing the “Fated Land” quest

The “Fated Land” mission culminates in a boss encounter tied to the Ryotan Temple shrine. Once you defeat the boss, the mission concludes and triggers progression flags in the game’s quest system.

This step is essential because it changes how certain NPCs respond to you afterward. Until this mission is cleared, the dialogue that leads to receiving the key will not appear.

After completing the quest, you must return to Hamamatsu to continue the unlock chain.

Speaking with Naotora at Hamamatsu Castle Keep

Following the completion of “Fated Land,” travel to Hamamatsu Castle Keep and locate the NPC Naotora. She plays a key role in the Hamamatsu Hills storyline and provides access to the locked gate indirectly.

When speaking to Naotora, you must exhaust all available dialogue options. The game does not automatically hand over the key upon first interaction. Continue advancing the conversation until no new prompts appear.

Once her dialogue is fully completed, she will reward you with the gate key and assign you the objective of clearing the enemies at the Hamamatsu Hills enemy base.

The interaction sequence works like this:

Interaction Phase	Result
Initial dialogue	Acknowledges quest progress
Post-“Fated Land” conversation	Unlocks additional lines
Dialogue exhaustion	Grants gate key
New objective assigned	Clear enemy base

The key does not drop from an enemy and is not found in the environment. It is exclusively tied to Naotora’s reward dialogue.

Returning to the locked gate at Mikatagahara Junction Shrine

With the key in your inventory, return to the Mikatagahara Junction Shrine. Approach the previously locked gate near the Hamamatsu Hills route. The interaction prompt will now allow you to open it.

The moment you unlock the gate, it permanently becomes accessible. It functions as a direct route into the enemy base area, significantly reducing traversal time compared to alternate paths.

Here is how the final unlock step functions:

Action	Result
Approach locked gate with key	Unlock prompt appears
Confirm interaction	Gate opens permanently
Access Hamamatsu Hills base	Engage enemy stronghold

The unlocked gate essentially transforms into a shortcut and mission-critical entry point.

Why this gate matters for progression

Opening this gate is more than just accessing another combat area. The Hamamatsu Hills enemy base contains structured encounters, enemy waves, and potential loot opportunities aligned with your current progression level.

Because the gate becomes a permanent shortcut, it also improves farming efficiency if you revisit the area for equipment drops or mission cleanup.

From a pacing standpoint, the unlock reinforces narrative continuity. The game ensures you are authorized—both story-wise and mechanically—before entering the base.

Regional flow of the unlock chain

To visualize how the unlock fits into the broader regional progression, the flow looks like this:

Region Order	Key Activity
Hamamatsu Hills	Discover locked gate
Iinoya	Access Ryotan Temple
Ryotan Temple	Complete “Fated Land”
Hamamatsu Castle Keep	Speak to Naotora
Mikatagahara Junction Shrine	Unlock gate

This progression loop encourages returning to previously explored regions once new story milestones are achieved.

Strategic tips for smoother completion

Because the unlock depends on quest completion and dialogue progression, you should confirm that “Fated Land” is fully cleared before returning to Naotora. If her dialogue does not advance, revisit quest logs to ensure the mission is properly marked complete.

Also, interact multiple times with Naotora to guarantee dialogue exhaustion. Many players miss progression triggers by exiting conversations prematurely.

Once the gate is open, activating the nearby shrine ensures you have a checkpoint before entering the enemy base, which can contain challenging encounters depending on your build and equipment scaling.