Ghost of Yotei: Find a Way Into the Forest Puzzle Solution

How to light up the right lanterns next to fox statues and rotate every fox statue to right place to unlock the forest path.

The “Find a Way Into the Forest” objective in Ghost of Yotei shows up twice during the Kitsune main tale, and every time the game tasks you to read fox-themed environmental clues. The first puzzle is located beneath the big sacred tree, where you must light the correct lanterns to activate the pedestal. The second takes place next to it on the bridge, involving three rotatable fox statues that need to be aligned correctly. Here’s how to solve these puzzles without wasting time, so you can continue your journey towards Atsu’s revenge on Kitsune (one of the Yotei Six members).

How to Complete Find a Way Into the Forest in Ghost of Yotei

Once you leave Sentinel Forest Camp, follow the narrow trail marked by the Nine Tails symbol carved into the rock. The path bends to the right—stick to the edge and avoid the open pits; the area is littered with old traps.

Ghost of Yotei Pedestal under the tree puzzle

You’ll reach a tall tree in the middle with three fox statues in front of a stone pedestal under this tree. The door behind it is locked, which will open by activating the pedestal through a small puzzle. Before you can use the pedestal, it needs to be powered up by lighting a few lanterns around the tree.

First, interact with the brazier on the left to pick up a burning torch. Among the three fox statues behind the pedestal, one in the middle is an upright, upward-looking fox with paws down, and two lying-down foxes on the left and right. You only have to light the lantern that has the same up looking fox next to it, and the two lanterns that match the lying statues beside them.

Lighting the lantern next to lying fox statue in Ghost of Yotei

Light the first correct lantern, which is just left of the tree. For the remaining two, circle behind the tree to see a sealed wooden-and-stone gate, and find the lanterns towards its right. Every other lantern in the clearing must stay unlit. If you accidentally ignite others, interact with them again to extinguish.

Atsu examining the pedestral in front of fox statues in Ghost of Yotei

When the three correct lanterns light up, return to the pedestal beneath the tree. A change happens in the pedestal; interact with it when the ‘Examine‘ prompt appears. A short cutscene triggers where the puzzle mechanism reacts, and the door behind the tree unlocks. Head through that doorway to continue your journey through the forest.

How to Solve the Three Rotating Fox Statues Puzzle

After a short travel from the door, you’ll reach a small curved wooden bridge where you will fight the Nine Tails shinobi who attacks you. Cross the bridge to go near the fox statues ahead to solve another puzzle: three large fox statues that rotate to face different directions.

Ghost of Yotei Three Rotating Fox Statues Puzzle Solution

You can find clues around the area that hint at each statue’s correct direction to rotate and point, but if you want the quick answer, here’s the exact rotation order (also shown in the image above).

  • Left Statue – Lying Fox: Turn the left statue once so it faces right.
  • Middle Statue – Sitting Fox: Rotate the center statue twice so its back points at you and faces away from you.
  • Right Statue – Fox with One Paw Raised: Turn the right statue three times until it faces left, looking toward the other two statues.

Immediately after you rotate the last statue to the correct position, you will see the new door open through the bamboo in front, which is the way to proceed further.