Myouryuji – The Ninja Temple

Myōryū-ji (妙立寺) commonly known as Ninja-dera (“Ninja Temple”) is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan . Although not actually associated with the ninja , the temple earned its nickname due to its many somewhat misleading defenses.

Originally established in 1583 as a small prayer hall by the samurai lord Maeda Toshiie , Myōryū-ji Temple was built in 1643 by his son Toshitsune . Hoping to prevent the Tokugawa shogunate from dismissing him, Toshitsune married the Tokugawa’s daughter and set about founding a temple complex where his samurai warriors could live and keep potential enemies under close watch.

Designed as a secret fortress, the temple contains a variety of gimmicks and contraptions, including hidden stairs and rooms, trap pits, underground tunnels, and a watchtower. Because the government at the time forbade the construction of buildings over three stories high, Toshitsune designed the temple to appear to have two stories on the outside, but is actually four stories on the inside. There are 23 rooms and 29 stairs, as well as two hidden mezzanines.

The watchtower, for example, can be accessed through a hidden door in the middle of a secret staircase disguised as a closet. One of the stairs has a hidden trapdoor leading to the servants’ room, so that an unsuspecting intruder could be attacked by a guard posted below.

Another possible trick is the well, located in the center of the building. It is 80 feet deep, but it is believed, since it is not confirmed, that there is a tunnel that branches off, about 12 feet above the surface of the water, which leads to the Kanazawa castle that is near said temple. However, no one has attempted to use the tunnel and no known historical text mentions its existence.

These secrets and quirks have led the temple to be known as the Ninja Temple , although (to the best of our knowledge) it has never been associated with undercover agents known as ninja . Due to its architectural complexities and its current decaying state, visitors must book a group tour in advance and be accompanied by a guide.

The temple is less than a 10-minute walk from Nomachi Station. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or until 4 p.m. in the winter months. Advance reservation is required. The tour costs ¥1,000 for those over 12, ¥700 yen for children over six years old, and younger children are not allowed to enter. Backpacks and other large bags are prohibited for fear of damaging the building. Photography and smoking are also not allowed, and visitors will be asked to remove their shoes upon entering.

Would you like to visit this Ninja Temple on your next visit to Japan?