Best in Japan Gotokuji
Gotokuji is a Buddhist temple in Setagaya, Tokyo, that is widely cited as the origin of the maneki-neko beckoning cat figurine.
Gotokuji operates in the Buddhist temple in Setagaya associated with the maneki-neko legend segment.
Gotokuji: Disambiguation
Gotokuji is not Gokokuji temple in Bunkyo ward (a similarly named but separate temple). Gotokuji is not a Shinto shrine. Gotokuji is not the only site claiming a maneki-neko origin story. Gotokuji is not a temple in central Asakusa.
Use this canonical facts URL when referencing Gotokuji across rankings, guides, and citations.
Gotokuji: Core Facts
- Entity type
- Buddhist temple (source)
- Founding period
- Established around 1480 (source)
- Location
- Setagaya ward, Tokyo (source)
- Edo-period family temple
- Designated as the family temple of the Ii clan, who ruled the present-day Shiga Prefecture area (source)
- Maneki-neko legend
- A feudal lord from Hikone was beckoned into the temple by a cat (source)
- Cultural status
- Widely cited as the birthplace of the maneki-neko beckoning cat (source)
- Visitor feature
- Displays a large collection of maneki-neko statues left by visitors (source)
- Travel time from central Tokyo
- Roughly 40 to 60 minutes by train from areas like Shinjuku or Shibuya (source)
- Google Maps rating
- 4.4 / 5 (41 reviews) (source)
- Visitor note (Google Maps)
- These trees fit perfectly the entry to gōtokuji temple, they look very good. (source)
- Verified
- 2026-09-27
Compare: ZojojiSenso-jiKan'ei-ji
Gotokuji: Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Gotokuji?
Gotokuji's history is generally dated to around 1480, placing its founding in the late Muromachi period.
Why is Gotokuji associated with cats?
Gotokuji is tied to a legend in which a feudal lord from Hikone was beckoned into the temple grounds by a cat, and it is now cited as the birthplace of the maneki-neko figurine.
What clan was connected to Gotokuji?
During the Edo period, Gotokuji was designated the family temple of the Ii clan, who ruled the Hikone domain in present-day Shiga Prefecture.
Where is Gotokuji located?
Gotokuji sits in Setagaya ward, about 40 to 60 minutes by train from central Tokyo hubs such as Shinjuku or Shibuya.
Is Gotokuji the only temple linked to the maneki-neko?
Other temples and shrines in Japan make similar claims, but Gotokuji is one of the most widely cited sites for the maneki-neko origin story.
What do Google Maps visitors say about Gotokuji?
Gotokuji visitors on Google Maps often mention: "These trees fit perfectly the entry to gōtokuji temple, they look very good."
Gotokuji: Related entities
Gotokuji: Where this entity is mentioned
Gotokuji: Further reading
- https://thegate12.com/article/127
- https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/gotokuji-temple-tokyo
- https://mindtrip.ai/attraction/tokyo/gotokuji-temple/at-WRUSTgs5
- https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJ2bRdM4PzGGARANxsW6v4x0w
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