All Sumi-e Paintings And Locations In Ghost Of Yotei

TL;DR

  • Sumi-e Painting offers cosmetic rewards through touchpad tracing mechanics across six game zones
  • Each of the 16 painting locations requires specific navigation and provides unique headgear items
  • Advanced regions contain more challenging locations but follow similar discovery patterns
  • Proper technique and route planning can reduce completion time by 40-50%
  • These optional activities provide meditation breaks while enhancing character customization

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Embarking on the Sumi-e Painting journey in Ghost of Yotei introduces players to a traditional Japanese art form that blends technical precision with meditative practice. This activity utilizes black ink (sumi) to craft monochromatic scenes that capture the natural beauty of your surroundings. Beyond the artistic experience, you’ll acquire distinctive cosmetic items that enhance your character’s visual appeal.

The Sumi-e Painting system serves as a relaxing diversion from the game’s main combat sequences, remaining entirely optional for completionists. When you discover a painting site, you’ll identify a circular tatami mat accompanied by all necessary artistic materials.

Gameplay involves using your controller’s touchpad to carefully trace the outlined patterns on your virtual canvas. Successful completion of each artwork yields a specific reward, typically cosmetic headgear or masks that provide no statistical advantages but significant visual customization.

Mastering the touchpad sensitivity is crucial—apply consistent pressure and maintain steady hand movements to achieve perfect line accuracy. Many players underestimate the importance of positioning; ensure you’re comfortable before beginning as interrupted sessions require restarting the tracing process.

Consult the provided map to visualize all Sumi-e Painting locations within Yotei Grasslands, the initial game zone. The distribution shows three paintings clustered in northern and central areas, with a fourth positioned further southward.

Yotei Grasslands Sumi-e Paintings map
  • Plum Crane Sumi-e Location: Navigate to the purple lilac field along Shikotsu River, situated directly west of Atsu’s Home. The painting station is established on a distinctive rock formation overlooking the water.
  • Reward: Headband of Loss – A simple black cloth wrap symbolizing acceptance
  • Mount Yotei Sumi-e Location: Travel to Blooming Ridge Shrine in the zone’s northeastern quadrant. Proceed uphill past the initial torii gate then turn left to find the cliffside painting area.
  • Reward: Headband of Yotei – White headband featuring the mountain’s silhouette
  • Chasing Frogs Sumi-e Location: Head northwest to Lake Jozan’s perimeter. The painting station awaits just outside the cavern where you confront Soma the Condemned bounty target.
Yotei Grasslands Sumi-e Painting location #1: Plum Crane Sumi-e
Yotei Grasslands Sumi-e Painting location #2: Mount Yotei Sumi-e
Yotei Grasslands Sumi-e Painting location #3: Chasing Frogs Sumi-E
Yotei Grasslands Sumi-e Painting location #4: Careful Pincers Sumi-e

Pro Tip: Complete the northwestern painting during your Soma the Condemned bounty mission to optimize travel time. The area becomes accessible naturally through story progression, eliminating backtracking.

The Ishikari Plain region introduces more complex navigation challenges with its four distinct painting locations. These sites often require discovering hidden paths or completing minor environmental puzzles.

Ishikari Plain Sumi-e Paintings map
  • Crashing Waves Sumi-e Location: Located along the eastern coastline where dramatic waves crash against rocky outcrops. Look for a secluded alcove partially hidden by vegetation.
  • Way of the Yari Location: Positioned near an ancient training ground where broken spears litter the landscape. The painting station overlooks a memorial stone circle.
  • Defiant Roots Sumi-e Location: Found within a petrified forest where massive tree roots defy gravity. Requires climbing a fallen giant tree.
  • Chatting Crows Sumi-e Location: Situated in a grove where crows gather at dusk. Time your visit accordingly as the location becomes more atmospheric during specific in-game hours.
Ishikari Plain Sumi-e Painting location #1: Crashing Waves Sumi-e
Ishikari Plain Sumi-e Painting location #2: Way of the Yari
Ishikari Plain Sumi-e Painting location #3: Defiant Roots Sumi-e
Ishikari Plain Sumi-e Painting location #4: Chatting Crows Sumi-e

Navigation Insight: The Chatting Crows location features time-dependent accessibility—arriving during the golden hour (5-6 PM game time) enhances the atmospheric experience and may provide additional dialogue from nearby NPCs.

As you progress to later game zones, Sumi-e Painting locations become more integrated with environmental storytelling and require advanced exploration techniques.

Tokachi Range Sumi-e Paintings

Tokachi Range Sumi-e Paintings map
  • Free Skies Sumi-e Location: Perched at the highest peak in the mountain range, requiring substantial climbing and traversal skills to reach.
  • Season’s Colors Sumi-e Location: Hidden within a valley that changes appearance with seasonal transitions. Requires visiting during specific story progression points.
Tokachi Range Sumi-e Painting location #1: Free Skies Sumi-e
Tokachi Range Sumi-e Painting location #2: Season's Colors Sumi-e

Nayoro Wilds Sumi-e Paintings

Nayoro Wilds Sumi-e Paintings map
  • Peaceful Kotan Sumi-e Location: Situated near an abandoned Ainu settlement where nature has reclaimed structures. The painting overlooks a ceremonial circle.
  • Drying Bark Sumi-e Location: Found in a section of forest affected by blight, where trees shed their bark in unusual patterns.
Nayoro Wilds Sumi-e Painting location #1: Peaceful Kotan Sumi-e
Nayoro Wilds Sumi-e Painting location #2: Drying Bark Sumi-e

Teshio Ridge and Oshima Coast

Teshio Ridge Sumi-e Paintings map
  • Frozen Moment Sumi-e Location: Positioned in a high-altitude area where waterfalls appear frozen in time. Requires solving a simple ice mechanics puzzle.
  • Howling Pack Sumi-e Location: Located near wolf dens where pack echoes carry through valleys. The painting captures the social dynamics of these animals.
Teshio Ridge Sumi-e Painting location #1: Frozen Moment Sumi-e
Teshio Ridge Sumi-e Painting location #2: Howling Pack Sumi-e
Oshima Coast Sumi-e Paintings map
  • Lost Flight Sumi-e Location: Positioned where migratory birds gather after losing their course. The scene captures disorientation and regrouping.
  • Imperial Sakura Sumi-e Location: Found beneath a massive cherry tree planted during imperial visits. Petal fall patterns create natural artistic inspiration.
Oshima Coast Sumi-e Painting location #1: Lost Flight Sumi-e
Oshima Coast Sumi-e Painting location #2: Imperial Sakura Sumi-e

Advanced Strategy: The Frozen Moment location incorporates environmental puzzle mechanics—observe ice crystal formations to determine the correct sequence for accessing the painting station.

Mastering Sumi-e Painting requires more than just location knowledge—proper technique and planning significantly enhance the experience while reducing frustration.

Optimization Techniques: Group painting activities by geographic proximity rather than following numerical order. This approach can reduce total travel time by 40-50% compared to sequential completion.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid: Many players rush the tracing process, resulting in imperfect completions that yield reduced visual quality in the final cosmetic items. Practice steady, deliberate movements.

Time Management: Allocate 15-20 minutes per painting location accounting for travel, tracing, and potential retries. The entire collection requires approximately 5-6 hours for completionists.

Progression Integration: Rather than dedicating separate sessions exclusively to painting, incorporate these activities naturally during main story progression and side quest completion.

For comprehensive guidance on other aspects of Ghost of Yotei, consult our Complete Guide covering all game systems and mechanics.

Understanding character builds through our Class Guide can help optimize your approach to these artistic challenges.

Action Checklist

  • Complete Yotei Grasslands paintings during early game exploration
  • Tackle Ishikari Plain locations while completing zone main quests
  • Progress to Tokachi Range and Nayoro Wilds after reaching mid-game progression
  • Complete final Teshio Ridge and Oshima Coast paintings during endgame content
  • Equip and mix collected cosmetic items for unique character appearances

No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » All Sumi-e Paintings And Locations In Ghost Of Yotei Complete guide to finding all Sumi-e Painting locations in Ghost of Yotei with expert strategies and rewards