A Soto Zen temple, the family temple of the Ii lords of Hikone, said to be the birthplace of the maneki-neko beckoning cat. Visitors buy small white cats (shofuku neko) at the temple office and leave them on racks; more than 10,000 stand on the grounds, beside a three-storey pagoda and the graves of the Ii lords, including Ii Naosuke.
- Address
- 2 Chome-24-7 Gotokuji, Setagaya City, Tokyo 154-0021, Japan
- Hours
- Mon-Sun 06:00-17:00 (Google hours via Wanderlog, 2026-10)
- Best time to go
- Morning · About 40 min
- Price
- Free
- Price level
- JPY
Details can change. Check hours and prices before you go.
Good to know
- The cats come in ten sizes from 2 to 35 cm; buy at the temple office, not from outside sellers (ja.wikipedia).
- The temple asks visitors not to write on the cats and restricts commercial guided tours (official notices, 2024-2026).
- Photograph the cat racks without blocking the path for people who come to pray.