17th-century Buddhist temple with 29 rooms and anti-intruder traps; guided tour 1.000 ¥, booking required.
The Myoryuji temple, popularly known as the "Ninja Temple" (Ninja-dera), is one of the most mysterious and fascinating places in Kanazawa. Built in 1643 by the Maeda clan as a place of prayer and a secret refuge, the building is only two storeys tall from the outside but actually contains seven floors and 23 rooms connected by hidden passages, steep staircases, trapdoor floors, secret wells and steps of varying height designed to disorientate intruders. It has no real connection to the ninja, but its architectural labyrinth fed the myth. The visit is guided only (in Japanese, with panels in English) and costs 1.000 ¥; booking is required and is done on the official website or by phone several days in advance. The temple opens from 9:00 to 16:30 (until 16:00 in winter), closed at New Year. It is reached by tourist bus (left line, Higashiyama Kanazawa stop), a ten-minute walk from the Nagamachi district.
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