What other travelers are saying about Myoryuji Temple (Ninja Temple)
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!
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.
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
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
Reservations are required, and while the tour is conducted in Japanese, we had no trouble calling to reserve a spot using an international phone plan. You can also make a call from outside the temple to book a visit. The tour was interesting—even without understanding the language fully. They provided an English guidebook that helped us follow along as we explored the temple’s deceptive architecture, hidden staircases, false ceilings, and other clever defenses.
You’re asked to leave your shoes outside and refrain from using your phone during the tour, which adds to the immersive, respectful atmosphere. At just ¥1200 per person (~$8.40), it was one of the most unique and budget-friendly attractions of our trip. A hidden gem in Kanazawa—literally and figuratively.
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.
