The Buddhist temple known as Gotokuji Temple has a sizable collection of maneki-neko, or lucky beckoning cat figures.
They come in a wide variety of sizes and look adorable both alone and with others.
The journey was worthwhile, even though the temple is a little off the usual route in a peaceful area of Tokyo.
The actual temple was serene and lovely. There were numerous traditional wooden buildings scattered throughout, as well as a pagoda encircled by a tidy garden.
The sea of lucky cat figurines that guests have left as good luck is the main draw.
It was both bizarre and endearing to see hundreds of them, each with one paw up.
In addition, visitors can purchase their maneki-neko from the gift shop and present it as a sacrifice at the temple.
When I visited on a Sunday, it was empty.
Therefore, Gotokuji is a worthwhile addition to your Tokyo itinerary if you enjoy cats or seek a distinctive temple experience!
A little history of the beckoning cat that I learnt about from the locals:
A Samurai Lord was lost one stormy night and sought cover under a tree when he saw a cat named Tama calling to him.
Eventually, she guided the Samurai to the temple, where he was fed the same cat food by the monks. The lord became the temple’s patron and gave a significant portion of his fortune after being impressed by its kindness and hospitality.
Since Tama the cat deserves all the credit, maneki-neko statues—which are lucky charms—were erected in its honour when it passed away.
The royal family’s graves can be found in the nearby cemetery.
I also noticed a sales stand for Lucky Charms. Along with the main attraction, Maneki-Neko cat figures, they also sold Omamori Bells.
Additionally, there is an arrangement to wash your hands before entering the temple.
The Gotokuji Temple is a unique destination for both cultural enthusiasts and those looking for good fortune, in my opinion, because it is a stunning fusion of history, spirituality, and legend.
How to Reach
I started on the Odakyu Odawara Line of the Tokyo Metro from Shibuya, then switched to the Setagaya Line.
At last, I disembarked at Gotokuji Station and walked for roughly ten minutes to get to the shrine.
It was also a pleasant walk. The path was quite clean to the very end, and the weather was great.
