Michelle has always been a fan of the maneki neko or the lucky cat. So we took a train to a suburban area in western Tokyo to visit the temple where the maneki neko legend originated, Gotoku-Ji. As we left the station, we were greeted by a large maneki neko stone statue; we were clearly in the right area. After a walk through the neighborhood and then walking around half the perimeter of the temple we found the entrance.

Gotoku-Ji is very similar to many temple complexes we’ve seen throughout the country, which in no way takes away from its beauty and cultural significance, but what makes this stand out above many others is the maneki neko. From the main gate we walked down a long path passing the large incense burner and a bell leading to what appeared to be the lecture hall.

On the western side of the hall is a small shine area that is filled with hundreds of maneki nekos of varying sizes. These statues are placed in every possible nook and cranny. We particularly liked the statues that had begun turning green with moss. After many photos, we continued our tour around the complex.

The legend of the maneki neko is that while the daimyo Ii Naotaka was hunting with falcons a bad storm formed. The pet cat of the temple’s abbot, named Tama, beckoned Naotaka to take refuge in the temple, thus saving him from a lightning strike. This is the origin of the maneki neko legend; its image is now a charm used for home safety, business success, and the fulfillment of prayers.

Directly across from all the maneki nekos is a 3-story pagoda that is adorned with maneki nekos directly carved into it. Nearby is a fairly large cemetery, and around the back of the building is the white main hall, or hondo, with an octagonal building beside it.

We made sure to visit the gift shop to the side of the hondo. Here we purchased a maneki neko of our own, since we obviously had to get one from the maneki neko shine. We also purchased two ema boards or “wishing plaques” with the maneki neko printed onto it. There is also a large drawing of a maneki neko in front of the gift shop that you can pose for pictures with.

If you’re a fan of maneki nekos or just want to visit this unique temple, then we highly recommend Gotoku-Ji. The location is easy enough to get to, but it’s still distant enough from the heart of Tokyo to be a nice way to avoid some of the crowds and walk through a quieter neighborhood with a charming temple.

Google Maps Link: Gotoku-Ji