Myōryū-ji, better known as Ninja-dera (the “Ninja Temple”), is a Nichiren Buddhist temple in Kanazawa’s Teramachi temple district, just south of the Sai River. It has nothing to do with ninja: the nickname comes from its hidden rooms, trapdoors, secret stairways and escape routes.
It can only be seen on a guided tour, so book ahead.
Plan your visit to Myōryū-ji (Ninja Temple)
- Entry: ¥1,200 (guided tour)
- Tours about 9:00–16:00; book ahead
- Allow about 1 hour
History of Myōryū-ji (Ninja Temple)
The temple was moved to its present site in 1643 by Maeda Toshitsune, the third lord of the Kaga Domain. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, regional lords faced strict limits on military buildings, so the temple is thought to have doubled as a disguised lookout and defensive outpost on the approach to Kanazawa Castle.
From the outside it looks like a two-storey building, but inside it has four storeys arranged over seven levels, with 23 rooms and 29 staircases. A deep well in the centre is said, according to legend, to have hidden a tunnel to the castle.
Attractions at Myōryū-ji (Ninja Temple)
- Hidden staircases: steps concealed under floorboards and behind doors.
- Trapdoors and pitfalls: including an offering box that doubles as a trap.
- Secret rooms: small hiding spaces and an escape room for the lord.
- The well: about 25 metres deep, linked by legend to a tunnel to Kanazawa Castle.
- Lookout: the high point of the building, once used to watch the surrounding area.
Things to Do at Myōryū-ji (Ninja Temple)
- Join the guided tour: tours run in Japanese, with an English guidebook to follow along.
- Look for the tricks: the guide reveals each hidden feature as you go.
- Explore Teramachi: the surrounding streets are lined with dozens of temples.
- Visit Nishi Chaya: a small, quiet geisha district a few minutes’ walk away.
Myōryū-ji (Ninja Temple) – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
- Tours: run regularly from about 9:00 to 16:00 and last around 30–40 minutes.
- Fee: ¥1,200 for adults.
- Booking: reservations are strongly recommended (by phone: 076-241-0888); tours are often full on weekends and holidays.
- Closed: 1 January and occasional other days. There may be age restrictions for young children, so ask when booking.
How Long to Spend at Myōryū-ji (Ninja Temple)
Allow about 1 hour including the tour, or 2 hours if you also walk around Teramachi and Nishi Chaya.
How to Get There
- By bus: take the Kanazawa Loop Bus (left loop) from Kanazawa Station to the Hirokōji stop (about 20 minutes), then walk about 5 minutes.
- On foot: about 15 minutes from Kōrinbō or Kanazawa Castle, crossing the Sai River.
- By taxi: about 10–15 minutes from Kanazawa Station.
Flying into Komatsu Airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer straight to your hotel in Kanazawa.
Eateries Nearby Myōryū-ji (Ninja Temple)
- Ōmichō Market: Kanazawa’s main food market, famous for seafood rice bowls (kaisendon), about 15 minutes’ walk or a short bus ride away.
- Higashi Chaya District: teahouses and cafés, including gold-leaf sweets and soft-serve ice cream.
- Kōrinbō and Katamachi: the downtown area with a wide choice of restaurants and izakaya.
- Local dishes to try: jibuni (duck and vegetable stew), oden in the Kanazawa style, and fresh Sea of Japan seafood.
Other Attractions Nearby Myōryū-ji (Ninja Temple)
- Nishi Chaya District: a compact old geisha district nearby.
- Teramachi: Kanazawa’s temple district, all around the Ninja Temple.
- Kanazawa Castle: the Maeda clan’s castle, about 20 minutes’ walk.
- Kenroku-en Garden: one of Japan’s three great gardens.
- 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art: about 15 minutes’ walk.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Kanazawa: Kōrinbō and Katamachi are a short walk from the Ninja Temple.
- Coming from Tokyo? The Hokuriku Shinkansen reaches Kanazawa in about 2.5–3 hours.
- Get a Japan eSIM before you land, for maps and bus times.
Myōryū-ji (Ninja Temple) is one of Kanazawa’s most entertaining sights, a temple full of trapdoors, hidden stairs and secret rooms built to protect the Maeda lords. Book your tour in advance, as places fill quickly.
Afterwards, cross the river to Kanazawa Castle and Kenroku-en Garden.