You're probably stuck. Honestly, everyone playing Assassin's Creed Shadows eventually hits that wall where the map icons just don't tell the whole story. You are hunting for the Assassin's Creed Shadows Makinoodera Temple lost pages, and the game is being purposefully vague about it. It’s frustrating. You’ve climbed the pagodas. You’ve synchronized the viewpoints. Yet, those specific collectibles remain elusive, tucked away in corners of the Iga province that seem designed specifically to annoy completionists.
The Makinoodera Temple isn't just a pretty backdrop for Naoe’s shinobi antics. It’s a vertical nightmare. If you’re coming from the older games, you might expect these pages to be floating in the breeze like the sea shanties in Black Flag. They aren't. They’re grounded. They’re hidden in chests or tucked behind breakable screens that you’d miss if you weren't looking for the faint white glow of an interactable object.
I’ve spent hours scouring these Japanese landscapes. Let's get into where these things actually are and why the Makinoodera Temple is such a pivot point for the Iga region’s gear progression.
Why the Makinoodera Temple Lost Pages Actually Matter
Most players think the lost pages are just fluff. They aren't. In Assassin's Creed Shadows, these pages are the primary currency for upgrading your Shinobi tools and unlocking specific weapon blueprints that Naoe desperately needs for high-level assassinations. If you’re playing as Yasuke, you might care a bit less, but for a stealth build, these are non-negotiable.
The temple complex itself is massive. It sits nestled in the mountainous terrain of Iga, characterized by its multi-layered architecture and dense foliage. The "Lost Pages" here are specifically tied to the local lore of the Iga Vow, often found in areas that require you to utilize Naoe’s grappling hook or crawl spaces that Yasuke’s bulky frame simply can't navigate.
Don't just run through the front gate. You'll miss half of them. The developers at Ubisoft Quebec really leaned into the "urban stealth" aspect here, meaning the pages are often vertical. Look up. Look for the rafters.
Tracking Down the Assassin's Creed Shadows Makinoodera Temple Lost Pages
To find the first page, you need to ignore the main temple floor. Seriously. Most people waste twenty minutes checking every corner of the ground level. Instead, head to the western prayer hall. You’ll notice a series of scaffolding units on the exterior. Use Naoe’s grappling hook to reach the second-story balcony. Inside, tucked behind a screen near a fallen incense burner, is your first objective. It’s easy to miss because the lighting in the temple often casts deep shadows that hide the prompt.
The Hidden Rafters and the Bell Tower
The second page is a bit of a platforming puzzle. You need to get to the main Bell Tower. Once you're there, don't just look at the bell. Look above it. There’s a small crawl space accessible only by swinging from the outer eave. Once you’re in the rafters, you’ll find a small chest. This contains the second of the Assassin's Creed Shadows Makinoodera Temple lost pages. It’s tight quarters in there. If you’re playing as Yasuke, you literally cannot fit, so make sure you’ve swapped to Naoe before you attempt this climb.
I've seen some talk online about a bug where the page doesn't spawn. Usually, this is just a case of the player not having triggered the "Iga Investigation" questline. If the chest isn't there, go talk to the monk near the southern entrance. He triggers the world state change that populates some of these collectibles.
The Cliffside Shrine Secret
The final elusive page isn't technically inside the temple walls, but it’s part of the Makinoodera boundary. If you follow the path leading behind the main hall toward the waterfall, there’s a small shrine carved into the rock face. Most players run right past it on their way to a different mission. Stop. Use your Eagle Vision (or the Shadows equivalent, Shinobi Sense). You’ll see the faint outline of a page sitting on a stone pedestal. There’s a guard patrol here—usually three Iga warriors—so deal with them quietly or just smoke bomb and grab it.
Common Mistakes When Hunting Lost Pages
People get impatient. They try to find everything in one go. The reality of Assassin's Creed Shadows is that some areas are locked behind story progression or specific time-of-day mechanics.
- Check the time: Some interior rooms in Makinoodera are locked at night. If you can’t get into a side building, meditate until morning.
- The Grappling Hook is key: If you aren't using the hook to check the undersides of bridges or high beams, you're missing half the loot.
- Don't ignore the breakables: There are several thin wood partitions in the temple. If your Shinobi Sense shows a gold or white pulse behind a wall, just slide-tackle through it or use a heavy attack.
The Makinoodera pages are part of a larger set that spans the entire Iga province. Completing this specific sub-set gives you a significant boost to your "Tool Capacity" stat, which is basically the difference between having two smoke bombs or four when a mission goes sideways.
Mastering the Iga Region Collectibles
Iga is a vertical playground. Unlike the flat plains of other provinces, the Makinoodera Temple area forces you to think about 3D space. When you're looking for the Assassin's Creed Shadows Makinoodera Temple lost pages, keep your eyes on the ceiling. The Japanese architecture of the period—Sengoku era—featured complex roof structures (called kirizuma-zukuri) that the developers have used to hide collectibles perfectly.
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If you’re struggling to see the icons on your map, remember to sync the viewpoint on the highest pagoda first. It sounds obvious, but the fog of war in this game is particularly thick. Even after syncing, some pages only appear on the HUD when you are within 50 meters. It’s not a bug; it’s a design choice to encourage actual exploration rather than just following dots.
Practical Steps for Your Next Session
Stop wandering aimlessly. Follow this workflow to clear the temple in under ten minutes.
- Swap to Naoe: Her mobility is mandatory for the rafters in the main hall.
- Enter from the West: The scaffolding is your best friend. Start high and work your way down.
- Clear the Bell Tower: Use the grappling hook for the exterior swing. It’s faster than climbing the interior ladder.
- Check the Rock Shrine: Exit the back of the temple, follow the water, and loot the stone pedestal.
- Visit the Blacksmith: Take these pages to the nearest hub. They are useless sitting in your inventory; turn them in to unlock the "Improved Kunai" or "Hidden Blade Sharpening" upgrades.
By focusing on the verticality of the Makinoodera complex, you’ll stop feeling like you’re chasing ghosts. The pages are there, tucked into the history of the Iga clan, waiting for a shinobi with enough patience to look up.