Gotokuji Temple – Tokyo
Gotokuji Temple is known for “Beckoning Cat Temple” where a lot of cats is sitting there. It is very interesting for me to go there, so i did my research for Gotokuji Temple’s Opening hours, Entrance Fee, History, Access, and etc. in order to visit there.
The official name is Daikeizan Gotokuji which named after posthumous Buddhist name of Naosuke Ii.
Opening Hours
6:00～18:00 (for visiting)
9:00～16:30 (office opening)
Entrance Fee
No need to pay to enter to Gotokuji Temple. Actually, most of temple doesn’t charge you to enter unless that is very touristic place or needs high mentenanced, or etc.
So you can just go inside without any penny.
Gotokuji Temple History
In 1480, Koutokuin was built, and then it became “Bodaiji” of The Ii in 1633 who had a power to control that area. They changed the name into “Gotokuji” which was named after posthumous Buddhist name of Naosuke Ii as I wrote earlier.
Story of Beckoning Cat
What is Beckoning Cat = Maneki Neko?
Maneki Neko is beckoning cat and told that they bring a good luck to you. Usually they raise one of their hand, and some of them have “Koban” which used to be money in Japan.
Maneku = bring
Neko = Cat
Many kinds of Maneki Neko
If you want your cat to bring you money, pick a cat with right hand raised. A cat with left hand raised might bring “(Good) People”. There are other colored ones with wishes, such as a pink Maneki Neko for love, a gold one for money, and so on.
Story of Maneki Neko at Gotokuji
There are some stories about Maneki neko. I would like to introduce you a story to you that i found.
Naotaka Ii saw cat asking to follow her/him when he was sitting down on a wood, and he did so. Then a thunder hit the wood which he sat down earlier. He thought the cat saved him, and decided to donate a lot of money to Gotokuji Temple.
Why Are There Many Beckoning Cats?
People can buy a maneki neko for you at temple office, and they come back to this temple with your maneki neko once your wish has come true. So the number of beckoning cat shows how many wishes having come true!
We call this “Orei Mairi” = Thank (back) visiting. We wish something at shrine or temple, and come back to say “Thank you for making it come true” after it comes true.
Gotokuji Temple Access
You can take Tokyu Setagaya Line to get Miyanosaka Station by 5 minutes of walk.
I would highly recommend you to try “Tokyu Setagaya Line” since they have a cat designed car which is very adorable. If you are lucky, you can see or get on it.
You can also walk from Tokyu Setagaya Line or Odakyu Line, Gotokuji station for 10 minutes
2 24-7 Gotokuji, Setagaya City, Tokyo 154-0021, Japan
