Gotokuji Temple - if you love cats, especially beckoning good look cats, then Gotokuji will be paradise for you. Maneki neko, or beckoning good luck cats, are figures that many believe will bring good luck, especially to businesses. Gotokuji claims that they originated here. The story goes that during the Edo period, the chief priest at the temple had a cat he really liked. A feudal lord passed by one day and the monk’s cat appeared to be waving at him to come inside. When the lord entered, the preist served tea and a terrrible thunderstorm broke outside. Grateful to the cat and the priest, the lord donated land and rice to the temple, rendering it prosperous. The temple is literally stacked with maneki neko cat figurines in case anyone didn’t get the message that Gotokuji is THE maneki neko temple. Today beckoning cats are the symbol for the neighborhood as well as the temple.
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