How to Visit Gōtokuji, Tokyo’s Lucky Cat Temple

Last Updated on 22nd August 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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Located in Setagaya, one of Tokyo’s trendiest residential neighbourhoods, you’ll find Tokyo’s Lucky Cat Temple, Gōtokuji. Filled with statues of the renowned and beloved beckoning cat as far as the eye can see, this has become a haven for cat-lovers of the world. If you’re looking for luck then you’re in the right place, here’s an insider’s guide on how to visit Gōtokuji and what to know before you go.

Why are cats so important in Japanese culture?

For centuries that date back to the Egyptian times, cats have been considered auspicious creatures, thought to possess protective qualities and bring good fortune. In Japanese culture this remains to be the same case. But why do cats hold so much mythic power in Japan?

It’s generally thought that the first cat would have been imported to Japan in the 6th century, around the same time that Buddhism was founded. It’s said that cats were treasured for their ability to scare away mice and protect sacred texts from the damage rodents could cause.

Hunting aside, these small yet mighty mammals (…if you’re a cat lover you’ll know what I mean) are thought to possess good fortune, bringing wealth and luck while also warding off evil spirits.

Cats are everywhere in Japan. Japanese popular culture is cat-heavy, from Hello Kitty, Mankei Neko and even the bakeneko (which is a supernatural cat monster), the list is truly endless and quite fascinating if you dive deep into Japan’s history and relationship to the small furry felines.

You’ll also find walking around that many of the shops and restaurants have the Mankei Neko figure waving in their front window, this is with the belief it will bring success to the business owner.

What is Mankei Neko?

Maneki-neko, 招き猫, translates to ‘beckoning cat‘ and is a popular Japanese figurine that is said to bring good luck to its owner.

These lucky cats can come in a variety of colours, but most commonly in black, gold, white, or red. They’re usually made from ceramic or plastic, but did you know that there are different styles?

If the cat is raising their left paw, then they’re a female cat and can help to get more customers and build good relationships. If they’re raising their right paw, then they’re a male cat and bring wealth and good luck. If both paws are raised, the cat is said to provide protection!

History of Gōtokuji

Gōtokuji temple is one of the most iconic architectural landmarks and historic sites in the neighbourhood of Setagaya.

The history of the temple dates back to the 17th century and the legend goes that Ii Naotaka (a Japanese daimyō of the early Edo period who worked for Ieyasu Tokugawa) escaped an unexpected thunderstorm after noticing a small cat waving, beckoning him to take shelter in the nearby temple.

Naotaka made Gōtokuji his family temple, and to show his gratitude to the cat for its hospitality he dedicated the temple to the little white cat that beckoned him. From then on, Gōtokuji temple has been considered to be the birthplace of the beloved figurine, Maneki-neko.

For this reason, upon visiting Gōtokuji temple you will be blessed with the view of thousands of cats as far as the eye can see!

Highlights of the Mankei Neko Temple

Cherry blossoms

During sakura season this is one of the best places to see beautiful pink blooms set against the backdrop of a tranquil and serene temple. We visited just after peak season and it was gorgeous to see all of the cherry blossoms float down as the wind started to blow them away for another end to the sakura season.

Pagoda

The three-storied wooden pagoda is intricately carved with various zodiac signs and if you look closely you’ll be able to see that there are also cats carved into the wood too!

Lucky cats (Mankei-neko)

Sadly there are no real cats at the temple, however, luckily there are thousands upon thousands of Maneki-neko figurines of varying sizes. To be honest, dozens of white cats striking the same waving pose with their unreadable expressions is quite unnerving, but they are said to bring good fortune and also make for a cool photo!

Gokokuji Cemetery

Located in the east of the temple grounds, you can also visit the cemetery which is exclusively home to Imperial graves, therefore it is a resting ground for many significant figures of Japanese history. 

Can you buy a lucky cat at Gōtokuji?

Yes, you can purchase a lucky cat! There are many sizes available (from the teeny tiny to the pretty large) at the Temple’s reception during opening hours. Due to the popularity of the cats, they are limited to one per person.

Unfortunately, during our visit, we also noted that the larger cat sizes had all sold out and so we ended up purchasing two medium sized ones. You can either leave your cat at the Temple or alternatively take it home with you and return to Gōtokuji once your wish has been fulfilled.

The only thing is that is asked from visitors who are purchasing the cats is that they should not be written or scribbled on as they are considered sacred. If you wish to write down your wish at the temple, then you should purchase an ema, a little wooden plaque that you affix to a board within the temple grounds.

If you choose to bring one home, be sure to place it in a position with lots of foot traffic, such as in your living room or at the entrance to your house and Mankei-neko love to be around people!

How to visit Gōtokuji

The cat temple is free to visit, even during cherry blossom season, and was actually pretty quiet due to its secluded location far from the centre of Tokyo.

A small mankei neko statue can be found opposite the pagoda, this is the sign that you’re in the right place- this is the entrance to the inner part of the temple where all of the mankei neko statues can be found!

When you’re visiting, you’ll notice lots of fun little touches related to the lucky cats. For example, the vending machine close to the toilet block in the car park is covered in illustrations of Mankei-neko. The many businesses surrounding the temple are also home to plenty of lucky cat figurines!

The nearest train station has train carriages whose outsides are illustrated with cats, while their interiors have handles that are in the shape of a neko mankei! Unfortunately only around one out of ten of the trains that serve the station close to Gōtokuji are Mankeineko trains so hopefully you’ll get lucky and be able to hop onto one.

It’s also worth noting, a lot of the local cafes/businesses in the area typically don’t open until 10AM and are closed on Mondays, so bear this in mind if visiting before.

If you are visiting Japan for longer and happen to be heading to the countryside surrounding Nagoya, then you can visit the Manekineko Museum! The museum boasts over 5000 lucky cats within its collections of all types of styles and sizes.

Opening times: The temple is open daily from 6AM-6PM and is free to visit.

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