Gotokuji Temple, Setagaya

The 'lucky cat' surrounded by a Zen like atmosphere

Nicole Bauer Mar 13, 2013 - 1 min read

Perfection at Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya

Hundreds of cat statues of different sizes are lined up in one area

Wooden wishing plaques, called Ema, certainly feature the cat too

An impressive pagoda can be found right after the main entrance to the left

Wonderful gates separate different areas and buildings from each other

Of course, the traditional stone lantern can be found on the grounds too

Most of the buildings and gates are quite low, which made me feel to have travelled back in time

Ever since I read Emily's article about Gotokuji being the birthplace of Maneki Neko, the 'waving cat' (see related article link below), I wanted to go there. I wasn't sure what to expect apart from hundreds of little cat statues, but in the end I was overwhelmed by the extensive temple grounds and its Zen like atmosphere—at least it felt 'Zen' to me. A very inspiring and peaceful place; maybe my new favorite in Tokyo?

More info

Find out more about Gotokuji Temple.

Nicole Bauer @nicole.bauer

Travelling abroad to discover new places, getting to know different cultures and learning foreign languages has always been my passion. I was born and raised in Germany; however, for a few years now I've been very lucky to be able to spend my life abroad. I lived for some time in England and Ital...