Youkai Yashiki/Stage 4

The fourth stage manages to capture the kanji 死, which stands for death, quite well. The level is essentially broken up into two separate vertical sections connected by a long horizontal strip along the top of the level. It will be in your best interest not to miss the bonus section for the valuable item it contains.


 * Talisman 1: From the start, shoot the lantern and walk to the left. You'll meet a rather large looking slime which, when shot, splits into one red and one green slime.  The red slime will continue to split into two green slimes.  Continue left and collect the Onigiri next to the well.  Then climb down the vine to the screen below.  Drop down between the platforms and through the gap to the next screen.  At this point, the path branches to the left and to the right.  For the first talisman, head to the left.  Shoot the lantern next to the well, then climb down the vine.  Once again, fall between the platforms to the screen below.  The screen that you arrive at is repeated three more times.  Simply drop all the way down to the bottom of the level.  Jump over the well to the left, and continue past the single enemy to the next screen to the left.  Take out the large slime, and advance to the next screen to the left and immediately stop when you arrive.  The first talisman is on the left side of the screen, below the well.  Carefully navigate the platforms and remove the enemies as you approach the talisman.
 * Talisman 2: Take the well above the first talisman. You will arrive through a gold well.  Go two screens to the right and Jump over the water to the platforms on the right, and climb up to the screen above.  You will see the talisman on top of the high platform on the left.
 * Talisman 3: From the second talisman, drop back down to the screen below, and walk all the way to the left and return to the gold well. Duck down the gold well, and it will deliver you into the closed off room which contains the third talisman.
 * Talisman 4: After collecting the third talisman, drop down the well. Continue to do so until you arrive through the well one screen to the left of screen of where the path branched for the first talisman.  Shoot the lamp next to the well, and climb down the vine to the screen below.  Drop through the platforms to the screen below.  Shoot the lamp on the top platforms and jump over to the left side of the screen.  You need to fall off the ledge, and push to the left to land on the platform above the water and proceed to the left screen.  The second talisman is perched on the high platform for you to collect.
 * Talisman 5: After collecting the fouth talisman, fall to the ground below and drop down the well. You will actually arrive directly beneath the second talisman.  Carefully jump up through the gap to collect it.  Then fall back down and drop through the well.
 * Bonus section: At this point, head to the right two screens and you will be back at the starting point. Head right from here, shoot the lamp, and continue right.  Make your way one more screen to the right.  Remove the enemies, and shoot the lantern at the edge by the water.  Then jump into the water.  You will appear to die, and then the "NOW LOADING" screen will appear.  This section houses a powerful item, and it is cleverly hidden.  From the arrival point, jump over the fire and climb up the left ladder.  As you walk to the right, you will notice two oddly patterned blocks.  You will fall through these blocks if you walk over them.  The next screen to the right contains differently patterned blocks as well.  They are off to the right.  If you don't notice them, you might follow the obvious route to the well at the top and leave the section without finding anything.  Instead, leap over the fire and reach the small platform on the right over the different tiles.  You can then drop into the tiles by walking to the left and pushing to the right as you fall.  You will arrive in a room with an item waiting for you on the floor.  This item will halve the amount of damage you take from enemies.  The item is difficult to identify, but the signs in the room contain the symbols 大吉 which means excellent luck.  From here, you may proceed to the right, hop up and stairs and duck down the well.
 * Boss lair: After you collect the item from the bonus section, you will be returned to the well below the second talisman. Continue to drop down the well, until you are returned to the top level of screens. From here, simply walk all the way to the left, back to where you dropped in the water to access the bonus stage.  Only this time, leap over the water and jump to the room of the little house on the other side, and you will reach the boss.

Boss
The boss of this stage appears to be a Japanese suit of armor with glowing eyes inside the mask. It fires pairs of arrows or knives at you at varying heights, which you can shoot down with your own attack. It's weak point appears to be the top of the left shoulder guard. You can jump up to the height of the shoulder guard and attack the very top portion to damage the boss. Attack it until it disappears in a puff of smoke.