Onimusha: Way of the Sword Genma Notes Locations

Quick answer

There are 23 Genma Notes in Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Collecting the full set unlocks the Genma-ologist trophy or achievement. Launch guides agree that these notes are unusual because they are not naturally marked on the map: most are inside concealed chests that must be revealed with Musashi's Oni abilities. You can collect 22 before the finale; the Yoshitsune note is obtained after defeating the final boss and returning to the hidden chest behind Rokudo-chinnoji Temple.

Spoiler warning: the checklist below includes enemy and boss names. Keep a manual save before The Clash at Rendaino if you want a clean first-run collectible checkpoint.

How Genma Notes work

Genma Notes are bestiary-style records tied to specific Genma and major opponents. The practical challenge is finding the chest, not winning a separate puzzle. When Musashi's Oni Gauntlet reacts near a concealed treasure, use the current Oni Vision or Oni Power prompt to reveal the interaction point and then open the chest.

The important difference from many other collectible categories is visibility. Current launch guides identify Genma Notes as the collectible set that does not receive normal map marking, so a region can look complete while one hidden note is still missing.

Use three habits while cleaning them up:

1. Revisit arenas where named Genma or bosses were fought.
2. Watch the Gauntlet for a reaction near suspicious corners, rooftops and side paths.
3. Sweep one region at a time instead of jumping between maps, then compare your in-game list with the checklist below.

Best cleanup route before the final mission

The safest route is to progress until most areas and Spirit Mirrors are open, then make a manual save before The Clash at Rendaino. At that point you can revisit earlier regions and collect Notes 1–22 without starting a new playthrough.

After the final boss, reload or continue from the appropriate clear-state save and return to Rokudo-chinnoji Temple for Note 23. Reaching the finale with 22/23 is therefore normal; do not waste time searching the pre-finale map for Yoshitsune's entry.

A practical region order is:

• Eastern Kyoto: 10 notes
• Underground Laboratory: 2
• Mount Oe: 3
• Arashiyama: 2
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple: 2
• Nijo-jo Castle: 1
• Oni Refuge: 1
• Kyoto Imperial Palace: 1
• Rokudo-chinnoji after the finale: 1

All 23 Genma Notes locations

The location cues below are deliberately short so you can compare them with your map and in-game Genma Notes list without reading a full walkthrough for every chest.

How to get Genma Note 23: Yoshitsune

The last note is the one most likely to make a complete-looking checklist feel broken. Yoshitsune is not available as a normal pre-finale pickup. After defeating Minamoto no Yoshitsune, return to the area behind Rokudo-chinnoji Temple near the well. Use Oni Vision to find the hidden interaction point, reveal the chest with the current Oni Power prompt, and collect the note.

If your list is stuck at 22 before the final fight, that is expected. If it is below 22, compare the earlier boss arenas and hidden-chest routes first.

Genma-ologist trophy checklist

For Genma-ologist, the requirement is simply to collect every Genma Note. Current trophy guides classify the set as non-missable when you use the game's cleanup opportunities, but the final-note timing makes save discipline useful.

Before moving into the finale, check:

• Notes 1–22 are present in your collection.
• You have a manual save before The Clash at Rendaino.
• You have revisited named boss arenas with Oni Vision rather than relying only on map icons.
• You understand that Note 23 is post-final-boss cleanup.

For the wider Platinum route, including Carnage and Boss Rematch, use the Trophy Guide & Platinum Roadmap. If you are carrying collectibles into another run, check the New Game Plus guide before overwriting a completed save.

Common reasons a Genma Note is missing

• Relying on map icons. Genma Notes are specifically easy to miss because their hidden chests are not naturally marked like many other activities.
• Skipping old boss arenas. Several notes sit where major enemies were fought, so a room that feels "finished" can still contain a hidden chest.
• Ignoring vertical routes. Rooftops, lower water routes and wall-run side paths account for several easy misses.
• Searching for Note 23 too early. Yoshitsune's note belongs after the final boss.
• Confusing enemy completion with note completion. Defeating a Genma does not automatically add the collectible; the note still has to be taken from its chest.

Frequently asked questions

How many Genma Notes are there?

There are 23.

Do Genma Notes appear on the map?

Launch collectible guides identify them as the set that does not receive normal map marking. Use Oni Vision or the Gauntlet reaction to find their concealed chests.

Is Genma-ologist missable?

Current launch trophy routes treat it as non-missable with cleanup, but keeping a manual save before The Clash at Rendaino is the safest way to avoid unnecessary replay.

Why am I stuck at 22 of 23?

The Yoshitsune note is obtained only after defeating the final boss and returning behind Rokudo-chinnoji Temple.

Do Genma Notes carry into New Game Plus?

Launch trophy-route evidence says Genma Notes carry into NG+. For the full carryover matrix, use the New Game Plus guide.

Sources

• PowerPyx — All Genma Notes Locations
• PowerPyx — Collectible Guide
• PowerPyx — Trophy Guide & Roadmap
• Vandal — All Genma Notes and how to get them