Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
22 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
22 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
22 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
22 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Japan Kanazawa Myouryuji (Ninja Temple)

Myouryuji (Ninja Temple)

Although it has never been a secret ninja base, this shrine still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

Kanazawa, Japan

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  Flickr/Kentaro Ohno
  Flickr/Kentaro Ohno
The exterior.   Wikimedia/Bernie Ongewe
  Wikimedia/Oren Rozen
A staircase   Flickr/Kentaro Ohno
The temple entrance   Flickr/Kentaro Ohno
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Originally established in 1583 as a small prayer hall by samurai lord Maeda Toshiie, the Myōryū-ji temple was built in 1643, by his son Toshitsune. Hoping to prevent the Tokugawa shogunate from laying him off, Toshitsune married Tokugawa's daughter and purposefully played the fool while he founded a temple complex where his samurai warriors could live and keep possible enemies under close surveillance. 

Designed as a secret fortress, the temple contains a variety of tricks and gimmicks, such as hidden stairs and rooms, pit traps, underground tunnels, and a watchtower. Because the government at the time prohibited construction of buildings more than three stories high, Toshitsune designed the temple so that it would appear to be two stories high on the outside—but is actually has four stories on the inside. There are 23 rooms and 29 staircases, as well as two hidden mezzanines. 

The watchtower, for example, can be accessed through a door hidden in the middle of a secret staircase disguised as a closet. One of the staircases has a hidden trap pit that leads down to the servants' room, so that an unwary intruder could be attacked by a guard stationed below.

Another possible gimmick is the well, located at the center of the building. It's 80 feet deep, but there's—supposedly, though this is unconfirmed—a tunnel that branches off of it, about 12 feet above water's surface, that leads to nearby Kanazawa Castle. But no one has ever attempted to use the tunnel and no known historical texts mention its existence.

These secrets and quirks have led the temple to be known as the Ninja Temple, even though (to the best of our knowledge) it has never been associated with covert agents known as ninjas. Due to its architectural complexities and current decrepit state, visitors need to book a group tour in advance and be accompanied by a guide. 

Related Tags

Temples Ninjas Hidden Architectural Oddities Architecture

Know Before You Go

The temple is less than 10 minute walking from Nomachi Station. It is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or to 4 p.m. in the winter months. As stated above, advance booking is required. The tour costs ¥1,000 for those over 12,¥700 yen for children over six years old, and younger children are not allowed to enter. Tours are conducted only in Japanese, though English guidebooks are provided at request. You will also be asked to not speak in languages, other than Japanese throughout the tour. Backpacks and other large bags are prohibited for fear of damaging the building. Photography and smoking are not allowed, either, and visitors will be asked to remove their shoes upon entering. 

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Edited By

justinra, SailorAlphaC

  • justinra
  • SailorAlphaC

Published

August 17, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Myouryuji (Ninja Temple)
Kanazawa, 921-8031
Japan
36.555336, 136.649003
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Takaoka Daibutsu: The Great Buddha of Takaoka

Takaoka, Japan

miles away

Shirakawa-go

Shirakawa-mura, Japan

miles away

Cosmo Isle Hakui

Hakui, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 786
Stories 111

Nearby Places

Takaoka Daibutsu: The Great Buddha of Takaoka

Takaoka, Japan

miles away

Shirakawa-go

Shirakawa-mura, Japan

miles away

Cosmo Isle Hakui

Hakui, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 786
Stories 111

Related Stories and Lists

15 Places Improbably Frozen in Time

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Temple of Valadier

    Genga, Italy

    Temple of Valadier

    This domed temple was built in a hidden cave mouth as a refuge for sinners seeking absolution.

  • Tokyo, Japan

    Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple

    A grand Buddhist temple with Indian influences.

  • Templo del Señor de los Rayos.

    Aguascalientes, Mexico

    Templo del Señor de los Rayos (Temple of the Lord of the Rays)

    The history of this futuristic crypt-turned-temple is as curious as its facade.

  • Wat Arun.

    Bangkok, Thailand

    Wat Arun

    This dazzling Buddhist temple was constructed from over one million ceramic tiles salvaged from a British shipwreck.

  • Labrang Meditation Huts.

    Gannan Zangzuzizhizhou, China

    Labrang Meditation Huts

    These picturesque structures speckle the hill above the monastery.

  • Tower Bridge Chimney.

    London, England

    Tower Bridge Chimney

    An architectural oddity hides in plain sight on this iconic London bridge.

  • Kenmure Hill Temple.

    Johnstone, Scotland

    Kenmure Hill Temple

    A mysterious ruin shrouded in more folklore than fact.

  • Nashville, Tennessee

    Hidden Heart of Music Row

    It may take some time to locate, but it's sure to warm even a heart of stone.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.