Perfect Temple for Cat Lover’s, Gotokuji (Gotoku-ji) Tokyo, Japan

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When it comes to exploring temples in Japan, after a while they can start to look the same due to the similarities in architecture and design, that’s why when I heard about the famous Gotokuji Cat Temple in Tokyo, I just had to visit.

Gotokuji (Gotoku-ji) Temple in Tokyo is without a doubt one of the most unique I have come across in the country and it’s clear to see why. For all cat lovers, and just those who enjoy experiencing anything a little quirky, this is the perfect stop on a unique itinerary of the capital city.

A temple shrine that looks otherwise the same as many others, but with one clear difference:

White cats EVERYWHERE.

Read on to find out why this is known as the Tokyo Cat Temple and all the relevant information you’ll need in order to visit Gotoku-ji yourself.

Country:	Japan
Currency:	Japanese Yen / JPY
Do you need a visa to visit as tourists?	Check here

Don’t forget to get travel insurance to cover you if something bad happens. One company I have personal experience with is Safety Wing. Not everyone needs the same coverage, so make sure you get a personalised quote that suits you and your trip plans.

Want to look at more unique temples here in Tokyo? Check out this list.

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How to get to the Gotokuji (cat) temple in Japan

Location: 2 Chome-24-7 Gotokuji, Setagaya City, Tokyo 154-0021

Since the Gotokuji Cat Temple is located deep in the city of Tokyo, there are a number of ways to reach this destination. It is best advised to travel here by public transport since the subway and bus systems are so great here.

For the subway:

• Reach Miyanosaka Station (SG, Yellow, Tokyu-Setagaya Line) and walk 5 minutes to the temple.
• Reach Gotokuji Station (OH, Blue, Odakyu Line) and walk 12 minutes to the temple.

There are also several bus stops nearby that you could travel to but this would depend on the direction you are coming from. If in doubt, Google Maps works really well in Japan and Tokyo with accurate departure times and routes.

If you are new to travelling around Tokyo, you can either pay for your transport journey by journey although this can be harder to keep track of your spending. If you’re likely to be exploring the city for a few days or more, it’s beneficial to get a Suica (travel pass) which can be topped up at a machine and then tapped on and off each of your respective journeys. You only need to top up again once the balance is low but this card will save you from having to carry cash constantly.

You can get a Suica ahead of time to collect when you arrive at Haneda airport using my link: Welcome Suica

Want to visit other temples in Tokyo?

• Kanda Myoujin Shrine: Where Anime writers pray for success
• Visiting the Fox Shrine in Tokyo – (Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Annex)
• Nanzo-in (Nanzoin) Temple Tokyo – The “tied-up” statue

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What makes the Gotokuji temple in Tokyo so special?

If you couldn’t tell from the image above, the one thing that makes the Gotoku-ji temple in Tokyo so unique is the “lucky” beckoning white cats with their right paws raised.

These majestic little figurines are surrounded by hundreds of others in various sizes on multiple shelves and walkways throughout the temple grounds. It’s practically a sea of white throughout the temple of these lucky felines.

These small statues are both cute and interesting as it is not a normal sight to see so many in one place like this, let alone in a shrine. They have become a regular occurrence throughout the country and are instantly recognised when spotted by locals and tourists alike.

Although you’ll find these cat figures all over Japan, you won’t quite find an abundance of them in close proximity anywhere else but this famous Gotokuji Temple here in Tokyo.

Admission & Opening hours

You can visit the shrine between 6 am and 5 pm daily.

However, the shrine office where you can purchase a cat, is only open between 8 am and 3 pm so please bear these times in mind before arriving. The reception staff also close for one hour around lunchtime between 12 pm and 1 pm.

Also, note that the shrine office typically only accepts cash, so make sure you get some out before arriving.

What to expect at the famous Cat Temple in Japan?

Buying a Japan Cat Temple figure

There are a few different buildings located on the temple grounds, one of which is the small shrine office here you can make donations to the shrine or purchase one of your own small cat figures. If you want to do more than just look at the statues instead participate by doing what the Gotokuji Temple visitors in Tokyo had done before you.

Please note: They only sell one cat figure per person.

This is to allow more visitors the opportunity to purchase cat figures as the temple had some trouble in the past where tourists would purchase way too many per person and many others missed out due to the low stock.

Depending on the day (weekends are significantly busier than weekdays), you may need to wait in line to get to the purchase desk. With 9 different sizes of lucky cat statues available for purchase, there is something suitable for every budget. If you go too late in the day, especially on holidays, these lucky cats can sell out quite quickly so as with most tourist attractions, it often pays to arrive earlier if possible.

The temple office only accepts cash payments in local yen currency, as if you’re interested in buying more than just a cat, they often have tote bags and other small merchandise on sale too. Unfortunately, I arrived late in the day so these totes were sold on on the day I visited.

What should you do with your purchased cat figure?

So, you lined up and purchased your white cat figure, but what can you do with it now? There are a few options available to you.

• If you only care to have a souvenir then you can take it home when you leave the temple.

• If you’d rather participate and experience the benefit of the shrine that many locals believe in, you can pray to the shrine’s deity and power while placing your cat figure in the temple as an offering in exchange for your wish.

• Or, the other option is to take it home after you pray and make your wish, and once your prayer is answered, simply come back and place your cat on the shelf as an offering and a thank you to the shrine power.

Considering most of the cats were left under the conditions of the latter (as with many other temples throughout Japan that have offerings), it really makes me feel warm knowing that the majority of these cats are a confirmation of people getting what they dream of. Positive thoughts only!

If you do choose to pray or make a wish at the temple, you can also purchase one of these wooden plaques from the shrine office to write your prayer message before hanging it up on the wooden rack with all the others.

There are a few different ways to enjoy the temple depending on what you feel most comfortable doing. You can participate in one or more activities or simple walk-through as an onlooker. The experience is whatever you make it.

The story behind the Tokyo Gotokuji Cat temple?

After a heavy thunderstorm in the early 17th century, a well-known lord of the Omi-Hikone Domain named Ii Naotaka (later given the Buddhist name after his death of “Kyushoin-den Gotokuten Ei-Daikoji”) was seeking shelter from the rain and followed a friendly feline into the temple. He was very grateful for the cat showing him the way that he decided to dedicate the entire sacred site to the Li Clan and his furry friend.

Over the years the temple grew in appreciation for cats and many worshippers believed that the cats brought good fortune to those who prayed here. The cats became known as maneki-neko which can have either their left or right arm in the air, and are now recognised around Japan.

Many years later and after this lord had passed away, this temple was renamed Gotokuji Shrine, which we know it as today, in homage to his life and legacy at the temple. This has now become one of the most famous in the country – all because of a friendly feline all those centuries ago.

As you can see, in the images above and below, every place you could think of has something relating back to cats. Statues by the Gotoku-ji entrance gate, the backs of the wooden wishes that people leave when praying to the deity’s, and 3 separate walkways all showcasing the white figures that have been left before you.

Have you visited Gotoku-ji Cat Temple in Tokyo, Japan? What did you think?