Gotokuji Temple Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Gotokuji Temple. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Tokyo 6hr Private Tour With Government-Licensed Guide

• Tokyo 4hr Private Tour With Government-Licensed Guide

• Tokyo off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour With Licensed Guide

• Private Tour—Thousands of Lucky Cats! Go by Tram, Gotokuji Tour

• Private Tokyo With Exceptional Guide Tailored to Your Needs

There’s no admission fee to Gotokuji Temple, although contributions to the donation box are appreciated. Guided tours that visit Gotokuji Temple are a good way to learn about its history and cultural significance; costs vary depending on the length and inclusions, but start around US$75 for half-day guided tours of the Gotokuji area.

Gotokuji Temple is open daily, typically from 6am until 5pm. The temple’s office is open from 8am until 3pm. Early morning is a good time to visit, as the busy surrounding streets are more peaceful and you can experience the temple without too many other people around.

Gotokuji Temple is located in Setagaya City, a central–western part of Tokyo, southwest of Shibuya. The nearest train station is Miyanosaka on the Tokyu Setagaya Line, a 5–minute walk from the temple. If you’re coming from Shibuya, it’s easier to take the Odakyu Odawara Line from Yoyogi-Uehara or Yoyogi-Hachiman stations to Gotokuji, a 15-minute walk away.

Visitors to Japan will probably notice the small cat figurines (maneki-neko) that beckon you into shops and restaurants with a waving arm. Some people believe maneki-neko originated in Gotokuji Temple; the story is that a 17th-century feudal lord was once ushered into the temple by a waving cat, thus sheltering him from a thunderstorm, and the lord then dedicated the temple to his clan and turned it into a revered place of worship.

Yes, you’re allowed to take photographs within the grounds of Gotokuji Temple—especially of its many maneki-neko statues—but refrain from doing so within temple buildings, as this is an active place of worship. Out of consideration for worshipers, avoid photographing people, especially without explicit permission, and be careful not to get in the way of daily activities.