Gōtoku-ji

Gōtoku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Gōtokuji, a neighborhood within Setagaya ward in Tokyo. The grounds include several buildings, among them a three-story pagoda carved with zodiac animals and a traditionally arranged Japanese garden.

Kira Masatada, lord of Setagaya Castle, founded the temple in 1480 within the Rinzai Zen tradition. The community later shifted to the Sōtō Zen school and became the family temple of the Ii clan during the Edo period.

The temple marks the birthplace of the beckoning cat, and hundreds of white porcelain figures stand across the grounds. Visitors buy small Maneki-neko figurines as lucky charms and leave them at the temple for their wishes to come true.

The temple sits about 5 minutes on foot from Miyanosaka Station on the Tokyu Setagaya Line and opens daily from 6 AM to 5 PM. Paths lead through several areas with buildings and gardens that visitors can explore at their own pace.

A cat saved Lord Ii Naotaka from a lightning strike during a storm in the Edo period, prompting him to make this site the family compound. The legend led to the temple now being regarded as the origin of the beckoning cat figure.

Location: Gōtokuji

Inception: 1480

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Fee: No

Address: 東京都世田谷区豪徳寺2-24-7

Opening Hours: March 15-September 15 Monday-Sunday 06:00-18:00; September 15-March 15 Monday-Sunday 06:00-17:00

Phone: +81334261437

Website: https://gotokuji.jp/en

GPS coordinates: 35.64877,139.64742

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:52