Assassin's Creed Shadows Map Size & Regions – Full Exploration Guide

The world of Assassin's Creed Shadows is vast, layered, and deeply immersive. For fans of the franchise, the setting in feudal Japan marks a bold new direction. But this isn't just a backdrop—it's an intricate, living world with meaningful geography.

In this article, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about the map size, regional diversity, and how Ubisoft’s version of Japan will encourage exploration like never before.

How Big Is the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Map?

Ubisoft has confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Shadows features a map size comparable to Assassin’s Creed Origins. That places it somewhere between 80 to 100 square kilometers.

However, size alone doesn’t tell the full story. Unlike earlier titles that spread players thin across vast, often empty deserts or forests, Shadows is designed with density in mind.

This means less wasted space. Every area, from urban centers to isolated villages, is meant to be meaningful.

The world feels packed—not just with people, but with secrets, verticality, and new mechanics that enhance how you navigate terrain.

Expect to move through multi-layered environments filled with opportunities to climb, sneak, or fight your way through various challenges. Mountains tower over valleys, hidden paths snake through bamboo forests, and city streets invite you to melt into crowds.

Core Regions in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

The map in Shadows is split into several key regions, each reflecting a unique slice of Japanese geography and culture. Rather than a single unified empire, this Japan is fractured and politically unstable—a perfect playground for a Shinobi and Samurai to operate.

Here’s a breakdown of the confirmed and likely regions:

1. Kyoto – The Political Heart

Kyoto serves as the cultural and political capital. Palaces, temples, and nobles’ estates dominate this area. While not the largest region, it offers verticality, tight alleys, and expansive rooftops perfect for stealth.

Here, you’ll infiltrate ceremonies, spy on warlords, and assassinate targets beneath the shadow of historical landmarks. Expect dense NPC populations, ceremonial processions, and heavy patrols from the local Shogunate.

2. Mountains of Mino – The Frontier Region

Rugged and untamed, Mino introduces vertical gameplay to a new level. Cliffs, snowy peaks, and deep caves challenge your ability to climb and hide. These regions feel colder, quieter, and more dangerous—not from the number of enemies, but from how they force you to plan every movement.

This is where you’ll truly feel the distinction between the two protagonists. Yasuke’s raw power shines during ambushes, while Naoe’s agility makes vertical infiltration her domain.

3. Omi Province – Farmland and Villages

Omi provides a contrast with its open farmlands, rice paddies, and river systems. These regions are less vertical but more open. Think tactical movement through tall grasses, water-based routes, and infiltration of enemy camps hidden behind natural barriers.

The simplicity of Omi is deceptive. It looks peaceful, but it’s filled with corrupt landowners, rebel factions, and old clan loyalties that could turn violent without warning.

4. Fushimi – Urban Conflict and Black Markets

Located just outside Kyoto, Fushimi is more chaotic. It's a commercial hub riddled with black markets, dens of corruption, and criminal networks. This area feels alive in a different way—crowded taverns, merchant squares, secret passages beneath shops.

It’s a region that demands disguise, stealth, and sometimes diplomacy. Unlike Kyoto, where honor and ceremony rule, Fushimi is dirty, unpredictable, and very profitable—if you survive it.

5. Hidden Regions – Off-the-Map Secrets

Ubisoft has hinted at dynamic events and surprise unlockable areas. While they haven’t confirmed what these are, there are likely secret regions accessible only through progressing the story or unlocking certain choices. Think remote temples, cursed forests, or war-torn strongholds outside the main narrative arc.

These areas may not appear on your map until certain missions unlock them. This design encourages exploration and makes discovery feel organic. Some of the best loot and most memorable encounters may be hiding in these off-the-grid locations.

Dynamic Seasons & Region Variations

What makes Assassin's Creed Shadows truly distinct isn’t just its fixed geography—it's the way that geography changes. The game features a fully dynamic seasonal system. Snowfall in the mountains, spring rains in the valleys, and autumn leaves falling in Kyoto drastically alter not just aesthetics, but gameplay.

A stealth approach through a summer rice field might turn into a muddy, loud trudge during a thunderstorm. Roofs that were once clear paths may become slippery hazards during winter. These changes keep each region feeling fresh, even on return visits.

Seasons are not just cosmetic—they alter patrol paths, enemy vision, and environmental hazards. You’re encouraged to study the land through time, not just space.

How Fast Can You Explore the Whole Map?

If you’re looking to just "get across" the map, expect a traversal time of 15–20 minutes on horseback from one end to the other. But that assumes you're not stopping for anything—which you will.

Constant distractions in the form of side quests, enemy patrols, collectibles, and ambushes will keep you from riding in a straight line for long.

Fast travel points will be present but limited early on. Ubisoft wants you to walk, climb, sneak, and fight your way through unfamiliar terrain. You'll unlock shortcuts and hidden pathways only after mastering each region.

The goal is not to rush the experience but to live in it.

Ubisoft has taken a more thoughtful approach to map design in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Instead of sheer size for the sake of spectacle, the world is crafted with depth, verticality, and variety. Each region offers a unique flavor—visually, mechanically, and narratively.

You’ll feel the shift as you move from temple courtyards to fog-covered forests, from battlefield ruins to thriving cities lit by lanterns. And with seasons dynamically altering the environment, the map never stays the same for long.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows isn’t just about going from point A to B. It’s about discovering what’s hidden between the lines. Every step, every climb, every drop of rain adds something new to the journey.

If you're the type of player who loves immersive worlds and detailed environments, this map won’t disappoint. It doesn't just serve the story—it is the story.