Ashoro Springs is one of the main Tales in Ghost of Yōtei: Echoes of Sekigahara.
The quest becomes available after Atsu and Nagato the Handsome rescue a wounded wolf from a Viper hunting camp and make their way into the Ashoro Springs settlement.
Unlike some of the earlier sections of the expansion, Ashoro Springs is not just about reaching a new location.
Atsu must first deal with the Viper occupation before investigating the connection between the settlement, the Snake, and Saito’s missing war funds.
This guide covers the entire Ashoro Springs quest from start to finish.
How to Start Ashoro Springs
The Ashoro Springs Tale begins automatically after the opening sequence involving Nagato the Handsome. Atsu and Nagato enter the Ashoro Foothills and follow the trail of a wounded wolf.
You will eventually reach a Viper hunting camp where the wolf is being held captive. Clear the enemies around the camp and rescue the animal.
During this fight, you will encounter an armored Viper. Normal attacks are not the best way to deal with this enemy.
Instead, look for the nearby Massive Weapon and use it when the game prompts you to do so. Once the armored enemy has been dealt with, free the wolf and continue with Nagato.
The pair will then make their way toward Ashoro Springs, starting the next stage of the story.
Clear the Vipers at Ashoro Springs
When you arrive at Ashoro Springs, you will discover that the settlement has been overrun by Vipers.
Your first objective is straightforward: eliminate the Vipers occupying the area.
Move through the settlement and take out the enemies around the various buildings and paths.
Pay attention to traps while moving through the area, as the Vipers have prepared the settlement for anyone attempting to fight back.
You can approach the encounters however you prefer. Stealth is useful for thinning the enemy numbers before starting a larger fight, while direct combat works once you have enough space to maneuver.
Keep clearing the settlement until all of the Vipers have been defeated.
Speak With Kihei
After Ashoro Springs has been cleared, look for Kihei and speak with him.
The conversation reveals more about what has happened to the settlement and the Vipers’ activities in the surrounding region.
Atsu learns that the Vipers were connected to the Snake, a figure whose influence extends throughout the Ashoro Foothills.
The investigation also points toward the Snake having a hidden home somewhere in the area.
Kihei directs Atsu toward the settlement’s bounty board, which becomes an important hub for the rest of the Ashoro storyline.
Investigate the Snake’s Operation
Once the conversation with Kihei is complete, the story moves toward Another Man’s Treasure.
The bounty board at Ashoro Springs becomes available for Atsu to investigate the Vipers attempting to take control of the Snake’s operation.
The first bounties tied to this storyline include Umakichi the Bear Slayer and Bunzaemon the Butcher. Completing these investigations eventually provides the clues needed to locate the Snake’s Estate.
The Ashoro Springs quest therefore acts as the bridge between the initial arrival in the region and the larger investigation into Saito’s money.
What Happens After Ashoro Springs?
After completing the Ashoro Springs Tale, the story opens up considerably.
The next major quest is Another Man’s Treasure, which uses the bounty board in Ashoro Springs as its starting point.
Atsu begins tracking the Vipers who are trying to replace the Snake and follows clues involving food shipments and the Snake’s missing operation.
The story eventually leads Atsu to the Snake’s Estate, followed by further missions involving Mount Akan, Nagato, and Saito’s war funds.
Ashoro Springs also becomes the main hub for the Ashoro Foothills. You can return here to pick up additional bounties, interact with vendors, and continue several optional activities.
Ashoro Springs Quest Tips
There is no particularly difficult puzzle in this Tale, but the first Viper encounters can be dangerous if you rush into the settlement.
Use stealth to reduce enemy numbers whenever possible, especially if several Vipers are positioned around the same area.
When fighting heavily armored enemies, make use of the environmental weapons and special combat opportunities provided by the game rather than relying entirely on standard attacks.
It is also worth completing the available Ashoro bounties as they appear. Several of them eventually become important for progressing through the expansion’s later story, and completing all six Ashoro Foothills bounties is required to unlock the final main Tale, The Nature of War.
Ashoro Springs Quest Rewards
The main reward for completing Ashoro Springs is access to the Ashoro Springs hub and bounty board, opening up the next part of the Echoes of Sekigahara storyline.
More importantly, completing the quest allows Atsu to begin investigating the Snake’s operation through Another Man’s Treasure, which eventually leads into the deeper story surrounding Saito and the money being moved through the Ashoro Foothills.
