What to know
Myoryuji Temple (妙立寺, Myōryūji), commonly known as Ninjadera ("Ninja Temple"), was built by the Maeda lords, rulers over the region during the Edo Period. While not actually associated with ninja, the temple earned its nickname because of its many deceptive defenses.
Since the shogun imposed strict building restrictions as one way of weakening the regional feudal lords, Myoryuji was designed to circumvent the restrictions and serve as a disguised military outpost. It was built with considerable defenses and escape routes, so that its defenders could alert the castle in the event of an attack.
The temple's defenses aimed to guard against intruders or attack, and include hidden tunnels, secret rooms, traps, and a labyrinth of corridors and staircases. These can be viewed on guided tours held in Japanese, although good English guidebooks are available.
Myoryuji is located in the Teramachi District ("temple town") in the south of the city. Populated by numerous temples, this area was originally located outside of the city limits as were the entertainment districts.
Take the Left Loop of the Kanazawa Loop Bus (20 minutes, 220 yen, every 15 minutes) to Hirokoji bus stop from where you can walk to the temple in about five minutes.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- Tours are held every 30-60 minutes from 9:00 to 16:00
- Closed
- January 1 and infrequent irregular closures
- Admission
- 1200 yen (~$7.68) (advance reservations recommended by phone: 076-241-0888)
- English name
- Myoryuji Temple
- Original name
- Ninjadera (Ninja Temple)
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.