Downtown Kanazawa, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden are sandwiched between two rivers. One is the Asano River flowing to the north. The other one is the Sai River, flowing to the south of the city. The Teramachi Area is located on a fluvial terrace, further south of the Sai River. In the Teramachi Area, a lot of temples are located.

The most well-known temple in Teramachi Area would be "Myoritsuji Temple".

The temple is known as a "Ninjya Dera", or a "Ninjya" temple. As the structure and the arrangement of rooms of the temple are very complicated, it might be considered that the temple was a base of "Ninjyas". You can see complicated temple structures with a 1,000 yen admission fee. The temple asks you to make a reservation at +81 (0)76-241-0888.

Temples in the Teramachi Area are located along Tsurugi Road to the south and Noda Road to the south-east from downtown. Noda Road takes you to the graves of MAEDA clan families.
I visited temples along Noda Road.

Stone Buddha Statues in Jyoanji, shown in the picture below, were very impressive.

Many of these temples in Teramachi were moved from the Nagoya Area, where MAEDA Toshiie, founder of the MAEDA family was born, and other areas at the beginning of the Edo Age.
At the beginning of the Edo Age, MAEDA Clan was almost abolished by TOKUGAWA Ieyasu. In order to protect against potential attack of TOKUGAWA from the south side, MAEDA Toshitune, the third MAEDA Clan, placed these temples in the south of Kanazawa as the function of a fortress.

Now, only few visitors visit the Teramachi Area, except Myuritsuji Temple. You can feel historical atmosphere while walking in the Teramachi Area.
The Teramachi Area is designated as an important preservation district of historic buildings.

The above-left picture shows Ryuzoji Temple and the above-right picture shows Koganji Temple.
Most temples have similar designed gates and the main buildings.

From the Shin-Sakurazaka Ryokuchi Park, you can see the ruins of Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Park beyond the Sai River and buildings in the downtown area.

You are able to go down to the Sai River through the Shin-Sakurazaka slope.

The view along the Sai River is beautiful. You can see the Hakusan Mountains. Walking along the Sai River makes you refreshed.

How to get there
To Myoritsuji Temple, take any Hokutetsu Buses on the eighth, ninth and tenth bus stop to the east side of Kanazawa Station. Or, take a "Kanazawa Shuyu Bus", Kanazawa Loop Bus. You can get off a bus at Hirokoji bus stop.
Other temples are within the walking distance.

Official English Website:
http://visitkanazawa.jp/mustgoplace/
touristspot/area5

Other Historical Sites near by:
Ruins of Kanazawa Castle
Kenrokuen Garden
Korinbo Area
Nagamachi Buke Yashiki District