What other travelers are saying about Myoryuji Temple (Ninja Temple)
Completely awesome and totally worth it! 😆 The fact that it had nothing to do with ninjas doesn’t make the building any less fascinating or unique. I imagine it loses a bit if you have to rely on the foreign language guidebooks, if only because the tour moves rather fast, but they handle things well overall. I was also a bit worried that the staff might be brusque because they have so many tourists, but they were perfectly lovely to me both when I made my reservation and when I checked in.
More about Myoryuji Temple (Ninja Temple) from our blog
Frequently Asked Questions
Despite not being an actual ninja training ground, Myoryuji Temple is nicknamed the "Ninja Temple" due to its complex design with hidden rooms, secret passages, and defensive features that resemble ninja tricks and traps.
The temple includes hidden staircases, secret rooms, escape routes, and concealed observation posts, all designed to protect the inhabitants during times of unrest.
Reservations are highly recommended due to the limited size of tour groups and the popularity of the temple.
Photography is typically restricted inside the temple to preserve the privacy and integrity of its unique features.
The temple is fascinating year-round, but spring and autumn offer particularly pleasant weather for exploring the surrounding area.
We really enjoyed our visit to Myouryuji, often referred to as the “Ninja Temple,” and it ended up being one of the more memorable experiences of our time in Kanazawa. I went in with zero expectations and came away having learned a lot about local history, politics, and the incredible ingenuity that went into designing this place. Doing the guided tour makes a huge difference—you can genuinely imagine what may have happened in this house over the centuries, and how cleverly it was constructed for defense and deception.
The temple is famous for its secret doors, hidden staircases, traps, and misleading layouts, all designed to protect its occupants during a very turbulent period in Japanese history. Seeing these features in person really brings that era to life. There are also rooms associated with seppuku, which adds a sobering and respectful layer to the experience and reinforces that this is not just a “fun attraction,” but an important historical and religious site.
A word of caution for visitors: booking is required. We used the intercom at the entrance and were able to secure a spot with about a 20-minute wait, which worked out well. Be mindful that you are entering a temple and a place of worship. If you don’t speak Japanese, they provide an English information folder explaining each area, but there is no live translation during the tour. Phones are not allowed for translation or photos, which again reflects the respectful nature of the site.
We visited with our 9- and 10-year-old kids, and with a clear briefing beforehand they behaved appropriately and got a lot out of it. Highly recommend this experience—part history lesson, part architectural marvel, and completely unique.
I arrived without a reservation. They guide me towards an intercom and after some conversation, I got to join the tour group. The temple was simply amazing. Many trapdoors, hidden stairs and secret rooms. I highly recommend!
An amazing time. Very interesting tour with many hidden secrets. They offered an English tour book, and the guide instructed which pages to read depending on the feature.
Very strict on no photos inside
Absolutely loved this tour. You have to reserve - which we did by phone, a couple of days in advance. This was easy enough for me as the staff was able to speak a good level of English. I believe you can also just turn up and risk it too.
The tour guide only have the tour in Japanese, but we were given a booklet in English with numbered pages for certain parts of the tour.
The history of the temple is fascinating and we loved the secret traps and doors. The tour took around 40 mins and was well worth the 1200yen fee.
