Assassin’s Creed Shadows Tea Ceremony Guide: Guests, Steps, Outcomes
With Naoe’s outfit sorted and the needed gift secured, you’re finally set to tackle the Tea Ceremony mission in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This guide walks you through meeting the guests, what to do during the ceremony steps, and how the confrontation choice plays out. It also clarifies whether “getting it wrong” matters and what changes in Canon Mode.
Quick facts
- Return to Imai Sokun
- Meet and greet the tea ceremony guests
- Complete the tea ceremony
- Pick your target (Otama or Wakasa)
- What happens if you choose wrong?
- The Canon Mode difference
Return to Imai Sokun
Your first objective is to go back to Imai Sokun at his father’s house in the southern area of Sakai. Open the map to find the exact spot, and if you want an easy route, use the Pathfinder tool to guide you.
Sokun waits outside the home. Speak with him to trigger the next cutscene.
Wearing the kosode you selected, Naoe talks with Imai Sokyu ahead of the tea ceremony. During the conversation, you’ll be offered a dialogue decision with two responses:
- The tea ceremony is a spiritual experience.
- It’s a place to make contacts.
As with many dialogue choices earlier in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, this decision doesn’t meaningfully alter the mission or the wider story. Choose whichever line fits your preference.
Before the scene wraps up, a major visitor arrives: Akechi Mitsuhide, described as a general of Oda Nobunaga. He departs after a brief exchange.
With that handled, Sokun invites Naoe to greet the tea ceremony guests, bringing the cutscene to a close.
Meet and Greet the Tea Ceremony Guests
In the garden outside, you’ll meet three women who are joining you and Sokun for the ceremony.
One of them may be The Golden Teppo, the gun enthusiast who previously shot Naoe during The Onryo Samurai. Naoe has arranged the tea ceremony specifically to track her down and get revenge.
To proceed, you must talk to all three women. Pay attention to what each of them says to help you judge who could be the target.
Guest 1: Otama
Otama is the first guest, positioned just outside the door. She wastes no time insulting Naoe’s kosode, then asks how Naoe managed to secure an invitation. You get two reply options:
- I had a good teacher.
- I know the son well.
Either option works for advancing, but choosing that you know the son gives Naoe a chance to fire back with a sharper retort.
Guest 2: Lady Satoko
Next is Lady Satoko. Again, the dialogue options don’t restrict you, and her answer matters most for identifying her style: Satoko explains that she hunts bandits using a teppo, showcasing her ability with a rifle.
Guest 3: Wakasa
Finally, speak with Wakasa. She’s polite and respectful, and she reacts to your clothing choice—praising you if you wore the black silk kosode, but critiquing you if you chose red.
During the chat, Wakasa shows respect if you answer “I’m new to Sakai” and “I didn’t say where I was from.” Even so, these responses don’t significantly change how the mission progresses.
At the end of the conversation, Wakasa invites Naoe to visit her sometime at Osaka Castle.
Tea Ceremony Answers
Before you move on, here’s a quick cheat sheet for the Tea Ceremony steps in AC Shadows:
- Bow halfway
- Turn bowl right twice
- Confront Wakasa
Complete the Tea Ceremony
After you’ve spoken to all three guests, Sokyu returns and asks everyone to gather around. He bows first and invites you to mirror the gesture—if you choose bow halfway, he’s pleased.
Once guests settle into their seats inside, the tea bowl is passed around. Following your training, you should turn the bowl right twice.
After that, the guests present their gifts. As with The Perfect Gift, what you bring doesn’t cause a noticeable change here—you’ll receive the same reaction from Sokyu regardless of the item.
Pick Your Target
With the ceremony winding down, you’re given a new confrontation choice for the two guests Naoe suspects might be The Golden Teppo. You can choose between Otama and Wakasa.
Choice: Who did you choose to confront during the Tea Ceremony?
Who Should You Pick: Otama or Wakasa?
Both women can seem like plausible choices, but the correct target is Wakasa. Confront Wakasa, who then invites Naoe to her home. This wraps up The Tea Ceremony and starts the next mission, Drive the Point Home.
What Happens if You Choose Wrong?
If you botched the tea bowl direction, gave the wrong name during conversation, or selected Otama, it’s natural to wonder what the game does with those mistakes.
For peace of mind: you can make all the wrong choices during the ceremony and continue normally. Sokyu will show displeasure, and the women will look at you with suspicion, but the event still proceeds without stopping your mission flow.
However, the outcome is very different when you pick the wrong target. If you choose Otama, Naoe chases her through the street and assassins her. A letter found on Otama’s body indicates she wasn’t The Golden Teppo—but she was still corrupt.
After killing Otama, Naoe heads to see Wakasa at Osaka Castle. That ends The Tea Ceremony early and triggers a different mission called Defensive Position.
The Canon Mode Difference
If you’re playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows in Canon Mode, the game automatically selects the correct choice—Wakasa. In that setup, you won’t be routed into Defensive Position.
For more Assassin’s Creed Shadows coverage, look for additional help in side quests, castle walkthroughs and location guides, and recommendations for things to do first after starting the game.
Up Next: Drive the Point Home (Naoe Walkthrough)
Top guide sections
- Things to Do First in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
- Everything Added to Assassin’s Creed Shadows Since Launch
- Walkthrough
- Main Story Choices and Consequences
