Myoryuji is a Nichiren Buddhist temple built in 1643 by the Maeda clan, at a time when the Tokugawa shogunate was suspicious of the clan's power. The temple needed to be defensible without looking like a fortress — hence the extraordinary labyrinthine interior full of escape routes, trap doors, and hidden rooms that led locals to call it the Ninja Temple.
Entry is by guided tour only (Japanese language, usually with an English sheet), and the tours run on a fixed timetable. Advance booking is strongly recommended, particularly in spring and autumn. The tour takes about 40 minutes and covers the main rooms, the hidden staircases, and the escape well. The building is disorientating by design — take your time, and don't rush the guide.