Gotokuji Temple, Home of the Maneki Neko

You’ve probably seen Japan’s popular good luck charm, the maneki-neko (beckoning or welcoming cat). The cat with the raised beckoning paw is said to bring prosperity and can be seen outside many eating and shopping establishments. I’ve been told that the right paw welcomes money, and the left paw welcomes people.

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The maneki-neko is said to date back to the Edo period, but there are a number of stories related to it’s origins.  Perhaps the most popular story takes place at Gotokuji, a temple in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward.

Legend has it that Ii Naotaka, Feudal Lord of Hikone, was resting under a tree outside Gotokuji when the temple cat appeared to beckon him into the temple. After following the cat, a thunderstorm suddenly broke out and lightning struck the tree. Since Ii Naotaka was thankful that the cat saved his life, he became a patron of the temple, which happened to be going through difficult times.

Gotokuji became the Ii family temple, and is home to the graves of many prominent members of the Ii clan. In 2007, the city government of Hikone used the maneki-neko as inspiration for a new mascot to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Hikone castle.

Hikonyan’s popularity is credited with increasing tourism to Hikone by 200,000 annually. Perhaps there is something to the power of the maneki-neko!

Back to Gotokuji, a statue of a maneki-neko welcomes visitors outside Gotokuji station on the Odakyu Odawara Line.

From the station, turn left and make a pleasant 10 minute walk up a shopping street with lots of cute cafes and plenty of maneki-nekos.

Make a left when you get to the crossing at the end of the street.

From there, you will spot the temple wall. Take the first right and follow the wall to the entrance.

The temple grounds have plum blossoms, Japanese maple, cherry blossoms, and ginkgo trees; making Gotokuji worth visiting in any season.

The temple dates back to the 15th century and unlike most temples in Tokyo, it survived bombing during World War II.

These days, the most popular attraction is the maneki-neko.  People who have received good luck, bring the figurines back as offerings.

Gotokuji also has maneki-neko ema (prayer plaques).

The cats are confined to a small area of the temple, but the number is overwhelming.

There are thousands of maneki-neko.

Actually, I’ve always been bad at guessing the number of jelly beans in a jar. There may be millions of beckoning cats.

There are cats in every size. Apparently the size of the cat doesn’t equal the amount of luck.

Interestingly enough, all the maneki-neko haven’t resulted in huge crowds. For me, it’s just another reason to visit Gotokuji. Next time you’re in Tokyo, visit Gotokuji. The maneki-neko are beckoning you.

Details

Gotokuji is located in Setagaya Ward in Western Tokyo.  The temple is a 10 minute walk from Gotokuji station on the Odakyu line, or a 5 minute walk from Miyanozaka station on the Setagaya line.

Gotokuji is in a quiet residential area, but it is worth visiting if you like maneki-nekos or want to get off the beaten path. It is also a convenient destination to combine with a visit to Tokyo’s trendy Shimoktazawa neighborhood.

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