Gotokuji Temple is tucked away in the quiet streets of Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward. Thousands of beckoning cats, the adorable talismans that bring luck, call it home. Photographers and feline lovers will find an unforgettable blend of culture and history. Picture-perfect moments abound. Are you ready to discover this kitty haven?
Once, another temple, Kotokuin, stood on the site. It was a protector temple of Edo when the daimyo for Hikone province, Naotaka Ii, had a residence in Setagaya. Upon his death, the name changed to Gotokuji.
The legend of the cats? One story says that while Naotaka was falconry, a sudden and violent storm fell upon him. A cat (neko) appeared from a nearby house and seemed to beckon (maneku) to him to enter the grounds, which he did. That is how the term, Maneki Neko, came into being.
In Japanese, these beckoning cats are called Maneki Neko, and you’ll see these iconic talismans of good fortune everywhere in Japan, from restaurants to shops. Sometimes, they have one paw raised. Other times, both. The felines bring luck, customers, and money.
Finding them in Setagaya’s backstreets takes a little effort, but it’s worth it. Gotokuji Temple is beautiful and even has a pagoda. There are many trees to provide shade. It is a lovely place with a historic cemetery.
Your first visit might surprise you. The area for the cats is small. They are in an L-shaped area around one of the temple halls (but not the main one). The statues are on the ground, on other statues, on shelves, and in window frames! Maneki Neko are everywhere.
They are different sizes; some are large, and others are tiny. But they are all adorable, and they number around 2000! Their cuteness might make you want to take one home.
You can buy them at the temple’s administration building. They come in different sizes and cost between 300 and 5000 yen. The cheaper ones are tiny, only a couple of centimeters high. But the 5000 yen ones are large.
The cats might even help you fulfill your dreams too! Buy one and write your wish on its back. Leave it with the others. Many people do that. Let us know if something happens!
While Gotokuji is located in the suburbs, its fame means it’s often crowded with tourists. Be prepared for a bustling atmosphere in a relatively small space, which can make getting that perfect, unobstructed photo of the cats a fun challenge.
Are you interested in cemeteries? Gotokuji is a temple, so it has one. It’s not as big as Aoyama or Zoshigaya, though. But it is historical, and some of the tombstones are incredible.
Address: 2-24-7 Gotokuji, Setagaya City, Tokyo
Here it is on a Google map:
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For the most up-to-date information, consult the official Gotokuji website.
I like Gotokuji Temple. The architecture of the main hall is beautiful, and the cats are something different. It also has a piece of Tokyo history with the Ii family graves.
If you like this type of temple, I recommend two others. One of them is Toyokawa Inari Betsuin with a strong fox theme! The other is Imado Shrine, which also claims to be the home to the Maneki Neko!
Have you photographed or own a beckoning cat? Share your experience in the comments.
Rohan has photographed Tokyo since 2011. He shoots it with his Canon EOS R5 these days. The project will take more than one lifetime to complete.
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