Gotokuji Temple in Photos
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?
Beckoning cats are called Maneki Neko in Japanese. They are everywhere. Restaurants, shops, and many other places are filled with them. 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 is worth it. Gotokuji Temple is beautiful and even has a pagoda. There are many trees too providing 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 the temple. Statues are on the ground, on other statues, on shelves, and in window frames! Maneki Neko are everywhere.
They are all different sizes, some are large, and others are tiny. But they are all adorable! That 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 be able to help you fulfill your dreams too! Write your wish on the back of the one you buy and leave it with the other cats. Many people do that.
Gotokuji might be in the suburbs, but it’s popular with tourists. Be prepared for that when you go. The temple is small, it is often filled with people. Getting photos of the cats can be problematic.
A Brief History of Gotokuji Temple
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.
Things to photograph at the temple
- The grave of Naosuke Ii. He was a daimyo and occupied the office of Tairo (Great Elder) of the Tokugawa government. Jizaemon Arimura assassinated him at the Imperial Palace‘s Sakuradamon (Sakurada gate).
- Maneki Neko (the cats are perfect for Instagram shots).
- Omikuji (this is one place I’ve seen them tied to real trees, not a rack)
- A three-story pagoda.
- Temple buildings and Buddhist imagery.
Photography tips
It’s typical outdoor photography, nothing complicated. But the cats are between a building and some trees, so they’ll be in deep shade in the morning. As the sun rises, that shade will recede, and you’ll have a sliver of light to use. Then the afternoon will be the opposite. The light fades as the hours go by and darkness returns.
How many beckoning cats are there?
At last count, there were about 2000.
Photo spots near Gotokuji Temple
- Carrot Tower (business tower with an excellent observation floor)
- King Kong in Sangejaya
- Setagaya Hachimangu Shrine
Where is Gotokuji Temple?
Address: 2-24-7 Gotokuji, Setagaya City, Tokyo
Here it is on a Google map:
Closest train stations:
- Gotokuji: Odakyu Line
- Miyanosaka: Tokyo Setagaya Line (this one is closer)
Opening hours
- 6 am to 5 pm (temple grounds)
- 8 am to 3 pm (temple office)
Admission costs
None
Conclusion
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 which has a strong fox theme! The other is Imado shrine which also claims to be the home to the Maneki Neko!
Read about the cats on Wikipedia to learn more. The article is interesting. It’s easy to understand why the Gotokuji Temple felines are beloved. Leave questions and comments below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
More temple articles:
External related websites:
- Gotokuji Temple (official website)