Myouryuji

Place of worship • 1-chōme-2-2-12 Nomachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 921-8031, Japan

4.2(3392 reviews)

A Mysterious Temple Filled with Ninja Devices

Countless Surprising Devices

Myoryu-ji Temple may look plain on the outside, but once inside, you will be amazed by the numerous unexpected devices. Trap doors, hidden doors, seppuku rooms, and more are installed everywhere to confuse adversaries. With explanations from the tour guides, you will surely admire the deep structure of the temple.

Learning from the Wisdom of Ancestors

These devices are not just for ninjas. They are the wisdom of the Kaga Clan in disguising the appearance to avoid detection by the shogunate and preparing defense in case of emergencies. You can glimpse political maneuvering and the tension of life and death in these designs. It is a precious opportunity to touch the wisdom of people of that time surviving.

An Unusual Experience

Although photography inside the temple is prohibited, the temple is still very impressive. It is a popular spot for many foreign tourists, and the tour guides provide excellent English support. From children to adults, it is a rare temple where you can enjoy an extraordinary space that is not usually experienced.

Tourist attraction Place of worship Point of interest Establishment

Reviews

4(a month ago)

Rocky River

Fantastic place to visit. A guide takes you around. All spoken information is in Japanese only, but an english booklet is offered to help you understand each step of they tour. No photos or videos are permitted inside. It's not really suitable for wheelchairs (sorry 🙏🏻). It is easy to get to, and there are buses and train stations nearby. Be sure to bring your Goshuin book to get a stamp. Although sometimes it is already printed and handed out at the end. It is also dated as you collect it. We had to wait a few minutes for a guide to bring them out. There is also a bell at the righthand side of the main temple building (just past the kiosk) should you need any assistance. Enjoy 🙏🏻

4(2 months ago)

Rebecca Powell

Not a ninja temple but it's got a cool history and architecture. Tours are in Japanese but you'll be given an English guide to follow along. You must book beforehand. You can do this at the venue though. They have basic English when reserving but better to practice your Japanese. Not suitable for people with small kids or mobility issues.

5(3 weeks ago)

Carlos Gomez Quintana

Very interesting temple that was used by the local lord as a place to hide and pray. A tour for 1,200 yen will tell you all about the hidden traps and corridors in the building, which has earned it the nickname "ninja temple" (no ninjas were involved, but the designers were tricky like ninja). The whole thing is in Japanese, and you are given a booklet to read along. Make sure you are ok with that arrangement. To us, it was worth it

3(2 months ago)

Mαrc EC

Honestly, it's okay — not remarkable, not outstanding, just okay. Long wait time even when you're in, very little english material (in a small booklet that isn't super descriptive and the photos were atrocious, not really showcasing things properly!) The introduction was overly long and no translation It was just okay I only recommend it if you're around and reaaaaally love temples, otherwise you can skip it. It is also called "ninja temple" but there isn't really anything related to ninja — lots of hidden trapdoors and such but I've seen those all around Europe in castles and such too I wouldn't go back

3(3 months ago)

Juan Tomas Rodriguez

I had read some good reviews about this place and gave it a chance. Recommend to book in advance, as they only offer guided tours in Japanese (I believe there’s some English translation book) for which you need to get yourself a spot depending on the schedule. We were very lucky that arrived just before a tour commenced and they had spots available. That’s the reason why it costs 1200 yen (which is high for a temple in Japan) but I found the tour quite fun and interesting. This was a temple used back in the feudal era in Japan and was built with some strategical passages and stairs to confuse enemies. The tour takes 40 minutes in total but it goes quite fast.

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