Gotokuji Temple

A favourite local temple in Setagaya ward, I’m so happy that for me I can easily walk or cycle here and really call it a local temple. Gotokuji is a Soto school temple on wide expansive grounds that are picturesque throughout all the seasons. It is located in a quiet, peaceful residential area surrounded by lush pine trees, plum & cherry blossom trees, Japanese maple and many other beautiful flowers and foliage.

Originally once the family temple of the Ii family (former lords of the Hikone domain during the Edo Period), over time the family has donated may important cultural assets and family heirlooms to Gotokuji. The Ii family’s cemetery lies on the grounds, with several monuments and tombstones raised to important family members. Since 2008, it is now designated as a national historic site.

Several beautiful temple halls, traditional Japanese gates, enshrining statues, buddhas and other cultural treasures are dotted throughout the grounds, so one has plenty to appreciate, observe, and even enter if you so wish. One will immediately notice the beautiful pagoda Sanju-no-to on the grounds, which is especially beautiful in Autumn. There is also a beautiful tea room “Muni-an” which has views of the pretty Japanese garden.

The main temple gate (featured below) Sanmon “Hekiunseki” is said to mean “A gate built to separate the outside world and the precinct.”

THE KAWAII MANEKINEKO

Renown for it’s temple grounds decorated with Japan’s Manekineko; the legend of why the Manekineko are found dotted through the temple grounds comes from the story that one day the Lord Naotaka Ii (ruler of the Hikone domain) was returning from a day of falconry when a cat beckoned him through the temple’s gates. During his time exploring the temple, and talking to the temple master, the Lord Naotaka Ii avoided a large thunderstorm, which he attributed to the cat beckoning him in.
Subsequently the temple Shofuku-den was created to enshrine the lucky cat, naming it as "Manekineko". and many people continue to visit and purchase the Manekineko statue too pray for well-being for the family, prosperous business, luck and happiness.

SOME LITTLE THINGS TO NOTE

The Manekineko statues can only be found around the Shofuku-den, and the shelves are quite low - it is not something that encompasses the entire temple and stands over you. If you want a photo amidst the manekineko looking like they are all around you, you will be squatting.

Make time to check out the intricate carving details on the Pagoda Sanju-no-to, where one will find the 12 Zodiac animals depicted on its being. If you look closely you will see cat carvings too placed near some of the zodiac animals, playing on the theme that even though the cat was tricked out of becoming a Zodiac, it can still get along with the other animals. If you can’t see them, don’t be surprised if some elderly locals who live around the area and volunteer at the temple, will come up and help you to see them. They also have laminated little folders of photos showing you where the cat carvings are.

THE SEASONS IN GOTOKUJI

Though many overseas visitors come to the temple for the cute Manekineko, the temple is truly beautiful in all seasons. One of my favourite things to do is either walk/cycle down with a book, a bit of tea, a little snack, have a meander around the grounds and sit down and read my book. Perhaps the temple is most famous for its beautiful autumn foliage which wonderfully frames the pagoda and other buildings. However if you can, you should take a wander whenever you can. Considering how easily accessible it is for me, I should really visit more. One year I will hopefully get to see it with snow.