What other travelers are saying about Myoryuji Temple (Ninja Temple)
This temple was very interesting. It is a maze inside and there are many secret passages and traps meant to confuse the builder's enemies. The tour takes you around in small groups to see many of the secrets. There is a guide, but they speak almost no English. A book was given to the English speakers to follow along as our guide told us what numbers to turn to. Rooms were small, with some ceilings being barely taller than my 6'2" height. Similarly doorways were low and stairways were steep and narrow. You will have to sit on the floor while waiting or occasionally on the tour. You are not allowed to take any photographs inside the temple so pay attention. I highly recommend this very interesting tour. Get your hotel to call and help you make a reservation.
Experienced this landmark as part of a cruise tour. A few things to know before you go. First, shoes are not allowed within the temple. They are to be left outside on a shoe rack. Second, backpacks and other large bags must be placed in front of your body. Third, no video or photos aside. Fourth, the temple is dimly lit in spots and has steep stairs that are the only means forward, so not the most handicap friendly. Fifth, toddler age children are not allowed in the temple. Finally, the tour is exclusively in Japanese. It is conducted by a volunteer on the temple grounds. Non Japanese speakers are given a guide book in English to follow along while walking through the temple. The experience starts with being seated until the guide is ready to take you. From there, you are given the 40min tour of the entire temple. What I appreciated most was the complexity of the architecture, from carefully crafted hidden entrances and traps to the foundation support and curved wooden beams allowing this landmark to survive for about 400 years of wind and snow. What did detract from the experience was the lack of a guided tour in another language. Not necessarily a fault of the temple, but it leaves you to your imagination that would otherwise be provided by the guide's comments if you spoke Japanese
Very interesting and historic place with many architectural designs as traps for defense. It brings us travel the time of Samurai and Nija around 400 years.
Worth to visit: 5.0
Beater to make a reservation by call
Interesting visit but not particularly fantastic, basically it’s a relatively small temple with lots of hidden doors, stairways and traps. You must book on the tour which is all on Japanese but you are given a book either photos inside so you can follow along with the tour guide.
There may not be a single ninja on site but rather an incredible display of architecture (trap doors and secret pathways/stairways throughout the temple), accompanied by an engaging retelling of the history behind this temple.
It was a full Japanese tour but English speakers like myself were given a booklet that ran through the experience very thoroughly and had an amazing time with the tour.
It is a booking only experience so do book in advance if possible, if not you’ll have to book via a phone/intercom to the left of the building and wait for the next session.
ps. Photography is not allowed inside the building.
