Gotokuji Temple, the Maneki-neko Temple

Another place I want to recommend for anyone going to Tokyo and not sure where to go. If you have about 2-3 hours, I highly suggest this place. Gotokuji Temple, or the Maneki-neko Temple, is great for praying for luck and fortune. The temple grounds are shady and peaceful, not too crowded, so you can walk around comfortably. There are a lot of Maneki-neko (beckoning cat) statues in the temple because people who make wishes and have them come true bring the cats back to the temple. When I visited, it was the perfect season for autumn leaves—so beautiful! I went in mid-December, and the weather was very cold, around 8-10 degrees Celsius, perfect for walking and taking photos. If you want to rent a Maneki-neko to take home, the temple sells them too. There are many styles; I rented a small one for 800 yen. **A little caution: the temple stops selling amulets during the lunch break from 12:00 to 13:00. So if you go, check the time carefully because I happened to arrive right then, haha. How to get to the temple: Take the Odakyu line from Shinjuku, get off at Gotokuji Station, then walk about 10 minutes. Along the way, the shops and houses are very cute—I really liked it. I will definitely come back once my wish comes true. ^^ temple trip