Myoryuji Ninja Temple

The temple Myoritsu-ji is also commonly known as “Ninja Temple” because of its unique architectural structure and secret tricks used to deceive the enemy.

In fact, there were no ninjas involved; the name derives from the temple’s architectural structure.

When Maeda Toshiie entered Kanazawa Castle in 1583 during the Warring States period, the temple was built as a prayer hall for his political philosophy based on the spirit of the Middle Way.

Later, in 1643, it was moved and built as Myoritsuji Temple by Maeda Toshitsune, the third lord of the Kaga Domain.

A building with an eccentric mechanism

The main hall of Myoritsuji Temple is a temple filled with secrets and surprises that are hard to imagine from the outside.

Although it looks like a two-story building from the outside, it is actually a four-story, seven-story structure.

There are 23 rooms and 29 staircases, including hidden staircases, pitfalls, watchtowers, and even an underground passageway leading to Kanazawa Castle, all of which are designed to deceive outside enemies.

Enemy watchtower

At the tip of the roof of the main hall was a glass-walled watchtower that offered a panoramic view of the Kaga Plain, allowing the enemy to quickly detect their movements. From here, it is possible to communicate with Kanazawa Castle by light, and there is an entrance and exit at the end of a hidden staircase and a hidden door.

A money box with a hidden pit

The money box embedded in the front entrance of the main hall could be used as a pit by means of a device. It is the size of two tatami mats and two to three meters deep, and could drop an incoming person; however, during normal times, the pit is limited to the size of one tatami mat to prevent danger to ordinary visitors.

Legendary Well

The well is made entirely from hollowed out tomuroishi, a high-grade stone used for the stone walls of Kanazawa Castle. The well is approximately 25 meters deep and is used for tea water.

Located in the center of the hall, there is a side hole (a secret underground passageway leading underground) 3 to 4 meters above the surface of the water, and ropes can be used to escape to the well from any of the rooms.

It is said that this underground passage was also used as an escape route to Kanazawa Castle, but since no one has ever attempted to pass through it, its authenticity is not certain and it is called the “legendary well.

It served as a wartime refuge for important cultural properties and valuable goods.

Bridge built indoors

There is also a taiko bridge inside the main hall, built indoors with the well as a river. This drum bridge was carved out of a natural single tree, and water was pumped up from above to enjoy tea.

Gorgeous Tea House

The tea room, a place to enjoy the tea ceremony, is located on the third floor, where it should not be, and is accessed by a secret hidden staircase in the shape of a closet.

This tea room is about the height of one adult standing, with a bowed ceiling to make it feel less cramped.

Since the outside view is not visible when sitting upright, the room is decorated with a beautiful Mt. Fuji pattern and tree roots for a climbing dragon.

There are many other attractions such as hidden rooms, hidden staircases, pit stairs, the Seppuku no Ma, the Samurai Tameuri, and the Mezzanine Floor Hidden Worship Hall.

Kaga Mangoku (one million stone)

From the time of the Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s “Taiko-kenchi” (land survey conducted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi throughout Japan in order to levy taxes) through the Edo period, the productivity of land was expressed in terms of the height of stones (kokudaka).

The Kaga domain covered most of the three provinces of Kaga, Noto, and Etchu during the Edo period, and in 1643, when Myoritsuji Temple was built, the domain exceeded 1,000,000 koku.

The Kaga domain was a threat to the Edo Shogunate, since the Edo Shogunate directly controlled about 1.6 million koku at that time.

A Fortress to Fight the Edo Shogunate

Maeda Toshitsune deceived and reassured the shogunate by receiving a bride from the Tokugawa family, taking her mother hostage, and acting the role of a foolish lord by growing a nose hair.

At the same time, he built a new temple complex (today’s Teramachi Temple complex) where warriors could reside, and at the center of the complex, he built Myoritsuji Temple, which functioned as a fortress and also served as a departure castle.

Worth a Visit

Myoritsuji Temple is a temple of great historical value, with its intricate architectural structure and secret devices. The place where ninja and warlords are said to have made themselves at home offers an experience like stepping back in time.

By exploring the buildings, visitors can get a glimpse of how people lived in those days. You will also be able to experience the history and culture of the Kaga clan.

Myoritsuji Temple is a popular tourist spot in Kanazawa City and attracts many visitors. However, tours of the hall are available by appointment only.

Visitors can enjoy each of the highlights and approach the mystery of Myoritsuji Temple. Walk through the historical stage, recalling the days of ninjas and warlords.