The map of Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is gigantic, meaning it's a guarantee that players are going to miss out on a few key areas during their first playthrough. With that being said though, many of these more obscure locations contain several very rare items and weapons that will make Link's journey to reuniting with Princess Zelda and taking down the mighty Ganondorf so much easier, so they are well worth seeking out.
While a few of these easy-to-miss areas are rediscoveries from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, there are others that are brand new to the world, which offer their own unique challenges in exchange for a few rewards. Therefore, it's worth covering every inch of the map, since there are plenty of areas that really reward the player for taking time out of the main quest to explore their surroundings.
Updated August 25, 2023, by Ewan Lewis: As time has passed, new weird and wonderful locations have been discovered thanks to the efforts of keen-eyed players. Not only are there a few more Korok interactions in the most unlikely of places, but there's even an area dedicated entirely to Princess Zelda, and it's actually very easy to reach.
As players experiment with Link's abilities and manipulate the world around them, they will often run into rooms and locations that seem like they shouldn't even be in the game. Sometimes, these areas act as small Easter eggs, but they can also treat fans to some backstory on the major characters in the game, such is the case with Zelda's house.
11 East Gerudo Ruins Cave
As players make their way through Tears of the Kingdom and start to learn the lay of the land, they learn to avoid whirlpools at all costs. These will only end in a game over screen. However, the whirlpool in the East Gerudo Ruins works a little differently, because it leads to a hidden cave.
The first thing players will see when leaping into the cave is a Bubbulfrog crawling along the walls. The frog will drop a gem which can be traded for some weapons and armor, but they will only be available to sell after players have completed the "The Hunt for Bubbul Gems" quest.
10 Shrine Of Resurrection
No Zelda fan will ever forget taking their first steps out of the Shrine of Resurrection in Breath of the Wild. It's difficult to find this location in Tears of the Kingdom since the entrance is covered in leaves. But for players who find themselves there, it contains plenty of rare resources and a special Eightfold Longblade behind the large Yiga banner.
The shrine is just south of Hyrule Fields. It's best to prepare with a sturdy weapon and some durable armor since Yiga soldiers will ambush Link once he's inside. They're incredibly fast and can deal a lot of damage with a single strike.
9 Oaki's Secret Room
Oaki is a young Korok who can be found in the mouth of the Deku Tree, which can be accessed by using the Ascend ability. When Link finds him, Oaki is having trouble decorating his room and eventually asks Link to help him put up a few glowing flowers to spruce the place up a little bit.
Oaki will request that Link brings back four Blue Nightshades and two Giant Brightbloom Seeds. As a reward, he will let Link stay overnight in his newly stylized room and will also hand over some Korok Fabric as a bonus, which can be used to customize the paraglider.
8 Lon Lon Ranch
Longtime Zelda fans might remember the Lon Lon Ranch from Ocarina of Time, where it was owned by friendly farmer, Malon, and her father Talon. While it does make an appearance in Tears of the Kingdom, it is damaged due to Ganon's destruction of the land.
However, keen-eyed players will recognize the small outhouse on the outside of the ranch, along with the giant temple that once was accessible but now is almost completely buried under rubble. The ranch can be found just a few miles southwest of Central Hyrule. It's a nice Easter egg that calls back to one of the most beloved entries in the series.
7 Gerudo Jail Cell
When approaching the large Gerudo guard standing at the front gate of the Gerudo Jail, it can be easy to assume that the prison itself is completely off-limits. However, Link can access the interior by turning to the left of the guard and finding the room with a bottle located just above the door.
Link can break the two white jars near the bottom of the shelf unit, which will open up a small space for him to crawl through. When moving all the way to the end, players will be able to use Ascend to jump into the cell. There, they can then speak to the man inside, who talks about his missing wife and daughter.
6 North Tabantha Snowfield
Players are tasked with visiting the Snowfield Stable as part of a quest offered by The Lucky Clover Gazette. Here, they will need to travel north to eventually reach the North Tabantha Snowfield, which is where Link can find and tame Princess Zelda's golden horse.
Because of how harsh the weather can be in this corner of the map, it initially seems unnecessary to travel any further. The journey could require many resources to stay alive in the cold climate, so it's easy to miss out on this area, despite it being the home of the greatest horse in the game.
5 Temple Of Time
The Temple of Time, which could be seen from the Great Plateau in Breath of the Wild, can be found in the exact same place in Tears of the Kingdom. This time, though, it's not quite the mighty landmark it used to be. It's also much more difficult to spot since it's on the verge of crumbling. If players make it inside, they'll find that there is still a Goddess Statue inside that provides the "Call From the Depths" quest.
Completing this quest will earn Link a free stamina or health container. It's worth traveling south-east from The Great Plateau not just to receive the quest but also to soak in the nostalgia by visiting one of the most memorable locales of the previous game.
4 Zelda's House
There was a quest in Breath of the Wild that tasked Link with building his own house, and if players return to the same area in Tears of the Kingdom, the house will still be standing, but it will now belong to Zelda. Since the house has been completely abandoned, it can be fully explored if Link chooses to, and there's even a young girl over the bridge eagerly awaiting the princess' return.
Link can even take a peek at Zelda's own personal diary by stepping inside where she reveals a few of her own feelings towards the hero and how much she appreciates his bravery. Players should also make sure to take a jump down the well just outside, which will lead to Zelda's own personal study.
3 Forest Coliseum
While there are many arenas that Link will stumble upon during his travels, the hardest one to find is the Forest Coliseum. This area is hidden away in the Great Hyrule Forest Depths, just west of the Ramobnukas Lightroot. A trail of bananas leading to the entrance can make it a little easier to find, but of course, this is a trap set up by the devious Yiga clan. Players should make sure to prepare before proceeding.
Inside the arena, Link will be tasked with taking down a gloom-wreathed Black Hinox, who provides quite the challenge if players haven't spent time enhancing their weapons and armor. Once defeated, Link can retrieve the Korok Mask, which is reminiscent of the Korok Makar from The Wind Waker.
2 Gerudo Secret Club
Gaining access to the Gerudo Secret Club isn't easy, but Link will be able to sneak his way in by snooping around for any holes that appear around the marketplace. These will lead to an underground passageway under the club's building.
Upon using Ascension and landing in the club, players should make sure to destroy the crate blocking the door before doing any shopping, ensuring that they have an easy way back in. Some of the unique items that can be bought in the club include the Desert Voe armor set, which increases heat resistance; and Sand Boots, which make traversing the Gerudo Desert a breeze.
1 Eventide Island
It's incredibly easy to ignore the Eventide Island that lies off the Cape Kales coast, especially when there are more urgent matters to get on with in the main story. But this area is packed full of resources, tools, and weapons. Getting to this island is much easier than it was before, thanks to Link's new abilities; he can either sail or glide over to the shore if the player gets creative with Zonai devices.
Not only is the Marari-in Shrine located on this island, but there is also a quest provided by Sesami. This quest takes Link to an abandoned pirate ship hidden away in the Eventide Island Cave, which contains a variety of goodies for him to loot. Despite the developers making Eventide Island easy to miss almost by intention, it, unfortunately, means many people never visit it, despite how much fun it is to explore.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now on Nintendo Switch.