Gotokuji Temple

About Gotokuji Temple

Get the inside scoop on Gotokuji Temple from local experts, travel creators, and tastemakers. Browse genuine trip notes, Gotokuji Temple reviews, photos, travel guides, and itineraries from real travelers and plan your trip with confidence.

What people say

"Getting a lucky cat from this temple was one of the must-haves for us. We went there with the idea to buy many for our friends and family, but it didn't go like that Ahah Unfortunately, they only accept cash and you are allowed to only buy a max of 1 size per person (they have 5 different sizes and prices available). It is very nice to see all the ones people left behind, especially if decorated. Getting to the temple will give you a nice view of a quiet area, it felt very authentic and people were all super nice all around. "
Dan Tanda
"Featured in one of my Tokyo Tours videos on King Kogi YouTube, Gotokuji Temple 護国寺 is well known across Japan as the origin of Maneki-neko, the “beckoning cat” figurine. This temple is also wheelchair accessible which can be hard to find in Japan. "
Christina Luostarinen
"Gotokuji is easy to miss as it's a bit out of the way, but definitely worth a visit. Perfect for a day where you need to have a break from bustling Tokyo. It's famous for being a birthplace of maneki-neko, with the temple being dedicated to it."
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A hotel room with an epilepsy warning? An omakase course of tea-based cocktails? I can't say for sure these are hidden gems, but after months of seeing everyone and their moms go to Japan since COVID reopening, I can say these were some of my favorite spots that I seldom saw people visit. Hi! I'm a Brooklyn-based tech journalist-turned-corporate comms editor. Early in my career I spent a stint as a luxury travel planner and writer specializing in Asia, and if I can toot my own horn, I'm often the friend everyone says "wth Natt, how do you find all these cool spots, drop that itin." (Fine, they don't say it like that, but you get the point). Travel planning is a great hobby for me, and I am writing this as both a journal to remember my trip by and to share with friends, hence the overly familiar tone you might find below. If you discovered this on the Thatch platform, consider giving my guide a shot and hopefully you'll find it useful for an adventuresome visit to Japan! This guide includes: ✈️ Pre and post-arrival pro-tips 🛌 Hotel, restaurant, and activity suggestions with some personal anecdotes (we vetted any Instagram vs realities!) 📍 Resources, databases, and things to make your journey more efficient and economical It is not: 📆 A list of daily itineraries ❓ "Beginner's guide to Japan" i.e. how to book JR trains, basic etiquettes, how to transfer from airport to city 🔝 The absolute best of the bests - opinions here totally my own
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