In the expansive world of Assassin's Creed Shadows, players are often left to their own devices when it comes to quests. One such quest, "Tea Bowls for Rikyu," has become a point of intrigue and frustration for many. Unlike typical fetch quests, this one offers little guidance, forcing players to explore Japan's diverse regions in search of seven unique tea bowls. With the game's immersive design, this hunt can be both rewarding and time-consuming. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of how to initiate the quest and locate each bowl, ensuring you can complete it efficiently and reap the rewards.
How to Start the Tea Bowls for Rikyu Quest
The quest triggers after completing the Tea Ceremony questline and assassinating The Golden Teppo (Wakasa), a member of the Onryo group. Once done, players must return to Sen no Rikyu, the NPC who started the Tea Ceremony quest. However, he has moved from Sakai to Yamashiro, specifically in Kyoto. Head to the Imperial Temple, go west, and find his home near the northwest corner across from the temple. A blue marker will indicate the spot. Talking to him initiates the search for seven Tea Bowls. The game provides no map markers, so players must rely on this guide.
How to Find All Seven Tea Bowls
Locating most of these Tea Bowls is straightforward once you know where to look. Instead of looting guards, you'll be buying most of them from Ornament Vendors. These vendors are scattered throughout Japan, but for the Tea Bowls, you must visit specific ones. Make sure you have enough Mon to purchase each bowl. Below is a quick reference table, followed by detailed locations.
| Bowl | Collection | Region | Vendor Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rustic Tea Bowl | Yamashiro | South of Honnoji Temple, Kyoto |
| 2 | Intricate Tea Bowl | Izumi Settsu | Next to Port of Sakai, Sakai |
| 3 | Sophisticated Tea Bowl | Omi | North of Shingu Shrine, before Azuchi |
| 4 | Unique Tea Bowl | Omi | Northern part of Sake Brewery, Sakamoto |
| 5 | Elegant Tea Bowl | Wakasa | Kara Market, Obama, northeast |
| 6 | Simple Tea Bowl | Tamba | Southernmost region beside Sennenji Temple, Kameyama |
| 7 | Classic Tea Bowl | N/A | Reward for assassinating The Wise |
Bowl 1: Rustic Tea Bowl Collection – Yamashiro
Stay in Kyoto and make your way south until you reach Honnoji Temple. From there, continue directly south. The road connecting the temple to the main city has an Ornament Vendor selling the Rustic Tea Bowl.
Bowl 2: Intricate Tea Bowl Collection – Izumi Settsu
The vendor holding this Tea Bowl is in Sakai, right next to the Port of Sakai. This should be the first Ornament Vendor you unlock since Sakai is the first city you reach.
Bowl 3: Sophisticated Tea Bowl Collection – Omi
The third Tea Bowl is in Omi, northeast of Sakai and east of Yamashiro. Head eastward to Azuchi, but the vendor is in the area just before the main city, located north of Shingu Shrine.
Bowl 4: Unique Tea Bowl Collection – Omi
East of Azuchi and across Lake Biwa, you'll find a small town called Sakamoto. The vendor is in the northern part of the Sake Brewery, right alongside the water.
Bowl 5: Elegant Tea Bowl Collection – Wakasa
Travel north to Wakasa. The first town you hit is Obama. Inside the city walls, head northeast to Kara Market. The vendor is in one of the houses on the right.
Bowl 6: Simple Tea Bowl Collection – Tamba
Navigate to Kameyama, in the southeast part of Tamba and west of Yamashiro. Upon entering the city, head south to Kameyama Castle and keep going south. The vendor is in the southernmost region beside Sennenji Temple.
Bowl 7: Classic Tea Bowl Collection
To find the last bowl, you must keep playing through the game until The Wise member of the Onryo group is available. Assassinate him to earn the final Tea Bowl along with the rewards that come with killing The Wise.
Completion and Rewards
Once you've collected all seven Tea Bowls, return to Sen no Rikyu to hand in the quest. You'll receive approximately 1,000 Experience Points upon completion. This boost is valuable for leveling up your character, especially in the later stages of the game. The quest also adds a layer of immersion, as it encourages exploration of Japan's beautiful landscapes.
In 2026, Assassin's Creed Shadows continues to attract new players, and this quest remains a favorite among completionists. With this guide, you can efficiently gather all Tea Bowls and enjoy the rich world Ubisoft has crafted. 🍵🗺️
Reference notes are drawn from GameFAQs, a long-running hub for community-made walkthroughs and quest documentation. For open-ended collection tasks like “Tea Bowls for Rikyu” in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, this kind of resource is useful for confirming vendor-based item locations, clarifying region-to-city routing, and flagging progression-gated collectibles (such as the final bowl tied to eliminating a specific Onryo target) so you can plan your purchases and travel efficiently.