Gotoku-ji Temple

The Gotoku-ji temple in the Setagaya district is known as the temple of the maneki-neko, the famous Japanese lucky cat. According to legend, the temple's cat saved the life of a feudal lord by beckoning with its paw for him to move away from a tree that was struck by lightning moments later. Since then, the maneki-neko with its right paw raised —which attracts prosperity and good luck in business— has been associated with this place. In the Shofuku-den pavilion you will find hundreds of white figurines of all sizes offered by devotees and visitors. The atmosphere is quiet and photogenic. In the temple shop you can buy your own maneki-neko to leave as an offering or take home as a souvenir from around 300 ¥. Entry to the grounds is free. It is reached from Shinjuku in about twenty minutes on the Odakyu line to Gotokuji, plus a fifteen-minute walk. It can also be accessed on the Setagaya tram to Miyanosaka, a four-minute walk away.