Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Guide | All Hidden Chest Locations

Hidden chests in Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma often stay invisible until you equip the Sacred Staff. Once you know they exist, they are not hard to track down, but it still helps to have a simple checklist for each area. 

This guide walks you through every known hidden chest location in Spring Village, Summer Village, Autumn Village, Winter Village, the Kagura Shrines, the Old Village, and the Spring Highlands. Use it as a quick reference while exploring so you can sweep each village and shrine without missing anything.

How Hidden Chests Work with the Sacred Staff

Some hidden chests only appear when you equip the Sacred Staff. When you walk through town or shrine areas with the staff equipped, these chests fade into view in specific spots, such as behind houses, near shrines, or on rooftops. 

A special chest in the Spring Highlands works differently and appears after you grow trees with the Sacred Drum, so you will handle that one separately. Keep the Sacred Staff and Sacred Drum handy as you move from region to region.

Spring Village Hidden Chest Locations

In Spring Village, a hidden chest waits next to the giant tree in the center of town. Equip the Sacred Staff, walk up to the huge tree in the middle of the village, and look near its base. The chest appears beside the trunk once you get close enough while holding the staff.

Another chest in Spring Village sits behind Sakaki’s house, next to his garden. Head around the back of Sakaki’s home and follow the edge of the garden. With the Sacred Staff equipped, the hidden chest shows up right by the garden area behind the house.

Summer Village Hidden Chest Locations

In Summer Village, one hidden chest is located behind Matsuri’s shrine. Move around the back of the shrine building where Matsuri resides, and keep the Sacred Staff equipped as you check the rear of the structure. The chest appears tucked behind the shrine.

Another chest in Summer Village hides behind Hisui’s store. Go to Hisui’s shop, circle around to the back, and walk close to the wall while holding the Sacred Staff. The hidden chest becomes visible behind the store once you move into the right spot.

Autumn Village Hidden Chest Locations

In Autumn Village, a hidden chest rests on top of Yachiyo’s izakaya. Approach Yachiyo’s izakaya and find a way up to the rooftop area. When you stand on top of the building with the Sacred Staff equipped, the chest appears on the roof, ready for you to open.

Another chest in Autumn Village is behind Cuilang’s house, tucked behind the Mikoshi storage. Head to Cuilang’s residence, then walk behind the house toward the storage area where the Mikoshi is kept. With the Sacred Staff in hand, a hidden chest reveals itself behind the Mikoshi storage.

Winter Village Hidden Chest Locations

In Winter Village, one chest hides behind Fubuki’s shrine. Travel to the shrine where Fubuki stays and circle around the back of the building. Keep the Sacred Staff equipped and move along the rear wall until the chest appears behind the shrine.

Another hidden chest in Winter Village sits next to the waterwheel behind Zaza’s smithy. Visit Zaza’s smithy and walk around to the rear where the waterwheel stands. Equip the Sacred Staff and step near the waterwheel. The chest appears beside it, hidden behind the smithy until you reveal it.

Kagura Shrines Hidden Chest Locations

The Kagura Shrines each hide a chest that you can reveal with the Sacred Staff. Treat these as quick stops while you travel through each season’s shrine area.

At the Spring Kagura Shrine, the hidden chest appears next to the right hind leg of the shrine’s main structure. Approach the shrine, look for the right rear leg-like support, and walk close to it while holding the Sacred Staff. The chest shows up near that spot.

At the Summer Kagura Shrine, the chest lies straight across the stage. Stand facing the shrine’s stage, then walk directly across to the far side while the Sacred Staff is equipped. The hidden chest reveals itself in front of you in that straight line from the stage.

At the Autumn Kagura Shrine, the hidden chest is behind the frog statue. Find the frog statue on the shrine grounds, then slip behind it with the Sacred Staff equipped. As you move to the back of the statue, the chest appears tucked away behind it.

At the Winter Kagura Shrine, the hidden chest sits behind the smaller shrine. Look for the smaller side shrine in the area, then walk around the back while holding the Sacred Staff. The chest appears behind this smaller shrine once you get close.

Old Village Hidden Chest Locations

In the Old Village, one hidden chest is located next to the house near the shrine. Find the house that sits close to the village shrine and walk along the side of the building with the Sacred Staff equipped. The chest appears beside the house, close to the shrine area.

Another chest in the Old Village is directly behind the shrine itself. Move to the main shrine, circle around to the back, and keep the Sacred Staff in hand. As you step behind the shrine, the hidden chest shows up right behind the structure.

Spring Highlands Special Hidden Chest

The Spring Highlands contain a special hidden chest that works differently from the others. This chest is not revealed by the Sacred Staff. Instead, it appears once you grow the trees around it using the Sacred Drum. 

After you use the Sacred Drum to make the surrounding trees grow, the chest becomes visible in the area. It has a gray color and does not show up on the map, similar to some of the other special chests, which makes it easy to miss if you are not looking for it.

You can find this chest near the Wayside Shrine Area waypoint in the Spring Highlands. Travel to the Wayside Shrine Area waypoint, then explore nearby after using the Sacred Drum to grow the trees. Once the trees are fully grown, look around the area until you spot the gray chest that does not appear on your map.