Gotokuji Temple

Unclaimed

As a tourist from Canada, I had to visit Gotokuji Temple after hearing about its connection to the maneki-neko (beckoning cat). It’s a bit off the beaten path in a quiet Tokyo neighborhood, but totally worth it. The temple itself is beautiful and peaceful, with traditional wooden buildings, a pagoda, and well-kept gardens. The highlight, of course, is the sea of lucky cat figurines left by visitors hoping for good fortune. Seeing hundreds of them lined up, all with one paw raised, was both surreal and charming. You can even buy your own maneki-neko at the small shop and leave it at the shrine as an offering. It wasn’t too crowded when I went, but there was definitely at least a 10 minute wait. If you love cats or just want a unique temple experience, Gotokuji is definitely worth adding to your Tokyo itinerary!

Since I love cat very much, this place is a must visit one. There are so many maneki-neko figurines in all size; very cute. Take Tokyu - Setagaya line from Tokyo, stop by in a small train station inside residential area, walk around 10 minutes and you'll find the temple. I can only see one real black and white cat, it's very cute.

Gotokuji Temple is a charming and peaceful spot, especially if you visit during cherry blossom season—the scenery is beautiful and definitely photo-worthy. The rows of beckoning cat statues (maneki-neko) are cool to see and give the temple a unique vibe. That said, beyond the cats and the lovely temple grounds, there’s not much else to do or explore. It’s a nice visit if you're in the area or love the aesthetic, but I’m still not entirely sure why it’s such a big tourist destination. Worth a stop, but maybe not a major detour.

Beautiful temple, a must-visit, especially if you are fond of cats. The story behind it is also very heartwarming. The temple was quite crowded when we visited it (around 11 AM). I guess it is better to go there very early, when it opens. The line to buy a cat statue was also very long, where only one was sold per person.

A must for cat lovers! Gorgeous quiet gardens to walk round . The shop selling the cats is open 8am till 12 , then 1pm till 3pm. Even met the boss/owner ! ( see photo ) After I'd check out the Atelier T coffee shop next to the train station for coffee and cheesecake. Man it was good !