I still remember the first time I set foot on Iki Island in Ghost of Tsushima. The vibrant colors, the wild bamboo groves, the haunting cries of monkeys… it felt like stepping into a painting. Even now, in 2026, this expansion remains one of the most visually stunning experiences in gaming. So you can't really blame me (or anyone) for accidentally sailing there before finishing the base game. But then the panic set in: the fast travel map had Tsushima completely grayed out. I was stuck.
Turns out, this is a deliberate design choice. Once you begin the Iki Island storyline, the game strands you there until you progress far enough. Back in 2024, this caught a lot of players off guard, and even today I see folks asking about it. If you're reading this because you made the same mistake ?, relax – I'll walk you through exactly how I got back, and share some lessons I learned along the way.
Why Am I Locked on Iki Island?
When you first accept the quest 'Journey into the Past' and travel to Iki, the game treats it as a narrative commitment. The Mongols have cut off your exit, and Jin can't simply sail back. In gameplay terms, all fast travel points on Tsushima Island disappear until you complete a specific story mission. This can feel punishing, especially if you only meant to explore a little, but the solution is actually pretty straightforward.
The One Quest You Need to Finish
I spent the first hour frantically clearing Mongol camps and chasing side tales, hoping the lock would lift – it didn't. You must advance the main questline. Here's the good news: you don't need to beat the entire expansion. All you have to do is complete the fifth main story mission called 'Jin From Yarikawa'. Yes, the fifth one, not the twentieth! That mission ends a major narrative beat and, crucially, reactivates fast travel back to Tsushima.
This quest has you help the people of Yarikawa repurpose a ship, blending stealth, combat, and some great character moments. It took me roughly 2-3 hours to reach it from the expansion's start, playing at a relaxed pace. Once you see the mission complete screen, open your world map, and you'll notice Tsushima's markers are back in vivid color. The relief was real.
Step-by-Step: How I Fast Traveled Back
After 'Jin From Yarikawa' was done, returning to Tsushima Island was incredibly simple. Here's exactly what I did:
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Press the Options button to bring up the world map.
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Zoom all the way out by pulling the right analog stick downwards – this reveals both islands.
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Pan the camera west (Tsushima sits left of Iki).
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Hover over any fast travel point on Tsushima Island – towns, shrines, survivor camps, whatever.
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Confirm the fast travel, and after a short loading screen, you're back in the familiar fields of Izuhara or Toyotama.
From that point onward, you can freely warp back and forth between the two islands whenever you want. It's also worth noting that any gear, techniques, or resources you gathered on Iki carry over, so it wasn't wasted time at all.
Should You Even Go to Iki Early?
Now, just because you can return doesn't mean you should rush Iki. The expansion's story assumes you've completed the main game, featuring flashbacks and emotional beats tied to Jin's past that hit much harder after the base game's conclusion. Plus, the enemies on Iki are noticeably tougher – they switch weapons mid-combo, use poisonous blowguns, and will absolutely demolish a low-level Jin.
If I could do it over, I'd follow this ideal order:
| Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|
| Finish Act 2 of the base game | Unlock all stances and key abilities |
| Max out your katana and armor | Iki's duels will test your parry skills |
| Save Iki Island for post-credits | Emotional story impact and balanced difficulty |
That said, accidents happen. Maybe you clicked the quest marker by mistake, or your curiosity won (like mine did). If you find yourself trapped, don't restart the game or panic. Embrace the adventure for a couple of hours – Iki Island is gorgeous, filled with unique collectibles like animal sanctuaries, archery challenges, and the wonderful Charm of Necromancy (super fun). The entire expansion is only about 10-12 hours long, so it's not a massive detour.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, I'm almost glad I got stuck on Iki. It forced me to explore an area I might have skipped otherwise, and the 'Jin From Yarikawa' mission itself is a standout with its camaraderie and tense naval sequence. If you're currently stranded, stay calm, push through the main quests until that fifth mission, and you'll be back to chasing foxes in Tsushima before you know it. And next time? Maybe read the prompt before hopping on that boat ?. Happy hunting, Ghosts!
Data referenced from HowLongToBeat helps frame Iki Island as a manageable “detour” rather than a run-ending mistake: if you’re stranded after sailing over, budgeting just a few focused hours to push the main Iki quests until fast travel reopens (after “Jin From Yarikawa”) can get you back to Tsushima without needing to abandon your save, while still letting you pick up worthwhile upgrades and side activities along the way.