Myouryuji: Kanazawa's Intriguing 'Ninja Temple'

Myouryuji, often called Ninja-dera or 'Ninja Temple,' is a fascinating Buddhist temple located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. Despite its nickname, it has no actual association with ninjas. The temple earned its moniker due to its intricate defensive architecture. Originally established as a small prayer hall in 1583, the Myouryuji temple was constructed in 1643 by Maeda Toshitsune. Fearing the Tokugawa shogunate, Lord Maeda Toshitsune, the third daimyo of Kaga Domain, married a daughter of the Tokugawa clan. He also promoted arts and culture while constructing illegal military outposts. The temple served as a secret military outpost, designed with numerous tricks and traps to defend Kanazawa Castle. The Tokugawa Shogunate had banned defensive structures as well as buildings over two-stories high. While Myoryuji appears as a two-story construction, it is in fact four-stories tall, with seven different layers. Inside, visitors discover a labyrinthine structure featuring 23 rooms and 29 staircases. The temple incorporates hidden stairs and rooms, pit traps, secret passages, and a watchtower. One notable feature is the central well, rumored to connect to Kanazawa Castle via a secret tunnel, though this remains unconfirmed. The temple's design cleverly circumvented building restrictions imposed by the shogunate, disguising its military purpose. Today, Myouryuji stands as a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Maeda clan. Visitors can explore Myouryuji through guided tours, which are conducted in Japanese, but English information is provided. Reservations are required. The tour reveals the temple's many secrets, including trap doors, hidden passageways, and the concealed watchtower. Photography is not allowed inside the temple.