Of the numerous secrets in Silent Hill f, perhaps none are as cryptic as the Agura no Hotei-sama, a vial hidden in the enigmatic Hermitage of Crimson Water. The item is very much tied to one of the game’s alternative endings, the Fox’s Wedding, and thus is vital to players who want to see every available end.
Getting to this secret destination isn’t as easy as just finding it by chance. You’ll have to play through the game at least once, plan your way back to the Main Hall cautiously, and take a perilous path before you can lay hands on the divine medicine bottle that seals your destiny.
Unlocking the Prerequisites
In order to get to the Hermitage and the Agura no Hotei-sama, you have to:
- Play through Silent Hill f once entirely.
- Make your way to the Main Hall area (just prior to the Rinko boss battle).
- Determine if and/or when to go after the Sacred Sword.
The Fox’s Wedding ending can be obtained with or without the Sacred Sword, but your approach will differ slightly:
- If you previously acquired the Sacred Sword, you can continue to fulfil all requirements for the Fox’s Wedding ending.
- Otherwise, you can skip it altogether and still end up at the same conclusion.
Replaying the Main Hall
In order to prepare to locate the Agura no Hotei-sama, load a manual save of when you were at the “Chase after Fox Mask” objective in the Main Hall. It’s a good place to start because:
- It’s right before the Rinko boss battle.
- You can branch off to various endings from one save file.
- It’s an effective place to also track down Jizo statues and other needs.
If you wish, you can start a new playthrough, particularly if you’re planning on unlocking several endings consecutively.
Accessing the Hermitage of Crimson Water
After entering the Main Hall in your second playthrough, you’ll see some minute differences. Go to the south-east section of the hall, and a four-legged beast will spawn there. This is the secret route to the Hermitage.
From there:
- Head towards the upper part of the hall.
- Pass through the Fox Shrine, where a disturbing cutscene had previously transpired.
- Kill the monsters waiting upstairs.
- Employ your upgraded Focus function to discover and unlock the final passage.
- This Focus interaction is the final stage before opening access to the Hermitage of Crimson Water.
Discovering the Agura no Hotei-sama
Inside the Hermitage, you’ll discover a small building — the only one in the hidden area. Enter it, and on a table, you’ll find the Hotei-sama Sitting Cross-legged medicine bottle. This is the Agura no Hotei-sama.
While appearing to be merely a relic or vial, this object has great significance in determining the final story result. It’s not sufficient by itself to decide your fate, but it is a vital piece of the Fox’s Wedding way.
