Myōryū-ji, Kanazawa

Myōryū-ji, commonly referred to as Ninja Temple, is a historical temple located in the city of Kanazawa, Japan. Despite its colloquial name, the temple has no historical connection to ninjas; instead, the name arises from its complex design, full of traps and hidden rooms, which evoke the cunning and stealth of the famed espionage agents. Built during the Edo period, Myōryū-ji was established by the Maeda lords, the ruling family of the Kaga Clan.

The temple's architecture is a marvel of defensive design, featuring a labyrinth of corridors, secret passages, and stairways leading to nowhere, intended to confuse potential attackers. Myōryū-ji stands at four stories high, though from the outside, it appears to only have two levels. This deceptive construction was meant to circumvent the shogunate's restrictions on building large castles, hence its design to look like a modest temple while having the capabilities of a stronghold.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Myōryū-ji is its strategic features, including hidden chambers and escape routes, as well as concealed sword-fighting platforms. The temple also boasts a well, ensuring a supply of water during a siege. The ingenuity of Myōryū-ji's design is attributed to the craftsmen's efforts to protect the Maeda lords without the need for overt military might.

Today, Myōryū-ji is a popular tourist attraction in Kanazawa, offering guided tours that reveal the temple's secrets and explain its historical context. Visitors are often fascinated by the temple's clever construction and the peaceful ambiance that belies its defensive purposes.

The temple is open to visitors throughout the year, but due to the complexity of the structure and the need for preservation, entry is limited to guided tours, which must be reserved in advance. The tours are conducted in Japanese, with English language materials available to aid foreign visitors.