Trip to Tokyo · Gotokuji Temple

Hidden in Setagaya Ward, Gotokuji Temple is famous for its thousands of "Maneki-neko" (beckoning cats). Legend has it that during the Edo period, the temple prospered because a cat beckoned guests, making it a popular spot for praying for wealth and good fortune.
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Address: 2-24-7 Gotokuji, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Open year-round, free admission)
How to get there:
1. 10-minute walk from Odakyu Odawara Line "Gotokuji Station" (recommended to exit from the "Maneki-neko Exit" and follow the signs)
2. 5-minute walk from Tokyu Setagaya Line "Miyanosaka Station"

📜 History and Legend
Gotokuji Temple was built in 1480 and originally belonged to the Soto Zen sect. It is famous for the "Maneki-neko legend." It is said that during the Edo period, the feudal lord Ii Naotaka was passing by when a temple cat beckoned him inside to shelter from the rain. After hearing the Buddhist teachings, he was deeply moved and designated the temple as the Ii family’s mortuary temple, beginning to worship the Maneki-neko, symbolizing "good luck, fortune, and prosperous business."

～ Weekday mornings are the most peaceful for visiting; on weekends, it’s best to arrive before 10:00 AM.
～ Each person is limited to purchasing one Gotokuji lucky cat.
～ Can be combined with trendy spots like "Shimokitazawa" and "Sangenjaya" for a day trip.
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Post by Dolce_vita_0622 | May 27, 2025