How to Unlock Ishikari Plain in Ghost of Yotei

What to know

• You unlock Ishikari Plain by completing The Road to Ishikari Plain main mission.
• The region opens exploration in Chapter 1 and introduces bounties, shrines, and new merchants.
• Completing tales like The Undying Samurai grants elite armor sets and charms.
• Rewards range from coins, masks, to the Armor of the Undying.

After clearing the early Yotei Grasslands content, your journey shifts north toward the Ishikari frontier. This newly accessible open area expands the playable world, offering challenging duels, treasure hunts, and mythic tales that deepen your samurai’s growth.

Ishikar Plain: Quick overview

Location for unlocking the Ishikari Plain

Ishikari Plain is located in the northwestern region of Ezo Island, just beyond the Yotei Grasslands and across the Sarubetsu River. It serves as the second major explorable area in Ghost of Yotei, acting as a transitional zone between the lush southern fields and the colder northern ridges.

How to unlock Ishikari Plain

Unlocking this region unfolds through the main questline. The entry is guarded and requires progress in the story rather than mere map traversal.

Step 1

Interact with the guard at the gate. The guard informs you that access is restricted and you require a travel permit to proceed. Attempting to intimidate or negotiate won’t work without the permit.​

Step 2

Approach the gate to Ishikari Plain and speak with the beggar standing nearby. Show willingness to provide coin, which prompts the beggar to hint at needing a travel permit.​

Step 3

Return to the beggar after talking to the guard. Express kindness and provide help, either by offering coin or choosing empathetic dialogue. The beggar shares their backstory about losing their lumber yard and hands you the travel permit in gratitude.​

Step 4

Go back to the gate and present the travel permit to the guard. The guard inspects the permit and lets you pass, officially unlocking Ishikari Plain for exploration and quest progression.

How to maximize your Ishikari Plain experience

Prioritize Sensei Tales and main region quests

The Ishikari Plain offers important Sensei Tales like The Way of the Yari and The Bomb Maker, which teach advanced combat techniques and unlock powerful weapons like the Yari spear and explosives. Completing all tales enables access to the final mission, The Burning of Castle Ishikari, delivering rare rewards including a weapon kit.​

Hunt all bounties efficiently

Ishikari Plain has multiple bounty targets spread across the region, each dropping unique masks and generous coin rewards upon defeat. Use fast travel points and clear the notice board in Ishikari Market for updates. Focus on high-reward bounties like Eijiro the Ruthless (2000 coins) and Toshi the Torch (1500 coins).​

Visit merchants and prepare supplies

The merchants near the gate and in Ishikari Market sell useful items such as sake for spirit replenishment, throwable items, and masks like the Fire Tengu Mask. Stock up early to prepare for tough encounters.​

Explore hot springs and shrines

There are several hidden hot springs and shrines scattered around Ishikari Plain that provide health boosts and improve spiritual energy. These spots are crucial for survival and combat stamina during longer expeditions.​

Use environmental navigation

Take advantage of grappling hooks and climbing routes near key locations like Hidden Cliff Hot Spring to discover secret areas and shortcuts, which sometimes contain treasure or side activity triggers.

Unlocking Ishikari Plain expands your tactical options and enriches gameplay with new swords, explosives, and legendary tales. By targeting key quests, bounties, and exploration spots first, you accelerate character development and progress smoothly into the story's next stages.