幸龍寺, Buddhist temple in Setagaya-ku, Japan
Koryu-ji is a Buddhist temple in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, known above all for its collection of maneki-neko cat figurines placed throughout the grounds. The site includes traditional Japanese buildings, small shrines, and a central figure of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, surrounded by rows of white ceramic cats.
The temple was founded in 1480 under the name Kotoku-in, then renamed Edo Bodaiji in 1633 when the Hikone Domain took control of the area. It then became the burial ground for the lords of the Ii clan, including Ii Naosuke, a senior official of the Tokugawa shogunate.
The temple is considered the birthplace of the maneki-neko tradition, where a cat with a raised paw is thought to bring good fortune. Visitors see white cat figurines left by worshippers all over the grounds as offerings of gratitude.
The temple is a short walk from Gotokuji station and is open every day without an entrance fee. The grounds are flat and easy to walk through, so no special preparation is needed for a visit.
The thousands of small cat figurines on the grounds were not placed there by the temple but left by visitors as offerings of thanks. Many are periodically cleared away, yet the number keeps growing as new ones arrive every day.
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