Visiting Famous Maneki-Neko Birthplaces
— A Complete Guide to Gotokuji, Imado Shrine, Jishoin & Tokoname

In the mid-Edo period (1600s), Lord Ii Naotaka of the Hikone domain was said to have been beckoned by a white cat at the temple gate on his way home from falconry, which led him to take shelter and escape a sudden thunderstorm. In gratitude, Naotaka made Gotokuji his family temple and provided it with generous support. After his death, the "Shokokuji Hall" (Hall of the Beckoning Cat) was built on the grounds. The temple features a "Shokoku Mound" where the countless white maneki-neko donated by worshippers are displayed, and the breathtaking sight draws many visitors and photographers from Japan and abroad. Gotokuji's maneki-neko is characterized by its simple white cat style without a gold coin, embodying the pure essence of the lucky charm as a bringer of fortune.

The first time I laid eyes on the countless white cats lined up at the Shokoku Mound, I was left speechless by the silence and sheer number of them. The sight of white cats of slightly varying sizes and expressions arranged in rows has a unique atmosphere that photographs simply cannot capture. The sense that "cats donated with wishes still linger here, waiting for someone" is what makes Gotokuji fundamentally different from any other place of worship.

The Imado district of Asakusa was the production area of unglazed clay figurines known as "Imado ware," and is considered one of the birthplaces of the maneki-neko. A legend survives that in the late Edo period, a poor elderly woman living in this area, after losing her beloved cat, shaped its likeness into a clay figurine and began selling it at the Asakusa Shrine grounds — and that this was the origin of the maneki-neko. Today the shrine is also famous as a power spot for romantic luck, and the pair of maneki-neko statues in front of the main hall, along with the goshuin stamp, draw many visitors from across Japan.

Imado Shrine's maneki-neko goshuin stamp, where the charm of its cute design overlaps with the meaning of romantic fortune, is especially popular among younger visitors. The experience of "receiving a goshuin stamp for romantic luck at the birthplace of the maneki-neko" is an unbeatable combination for lucky charm enthusiasts. The shrine is also within walking distance of Senso-ji Temple, so visiting at the end of a day of Asakusa sightseeing is highly recommended.

This "cat temple" preserves the legend that during the Muromachi period, the warrior Ota Dokan was beckoned by a cat while falconry and, following it, narrowly escaped a pack of wolves. Dokan is said to have given the cat a proper burial and erected a stone jizo statue in the shape of a cat (the "Cat Jizo") in its honor. While it is recognized as one of the birthplaces of the maneki-neko, its name recognition is lower than that of Gotokuji Temple and Imado Shrine, and it is affectionately known among maneki-neko fans as an under-the-radar sacred site.

Compared to Gotokuji Temple and Imado Shrine, far fewer people visit Jishoin, and the greatest appeal of the temple is being able to explore the grounds in peaceful quiet. For maneki-neko enthusiasts, it is an irresistible hidden gem where you can experience the feeling of having a lucky cat sacred site all to yourself.

Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture is known as Japan's largest maneki-neko production area, having produced the majority of lucky cats distributed nationwide. The "Yakimono Sanpomichi" (Pottery Walking Trail), where Tokoname ware kilns and specialty shops are gathered, is a charming area featuring brick chimneys and a distinctive slope made of stacked clay pipes, with maneki-neko shops dotted throughout. The local landmark is "Tokonyan" — a giant maneki-neko monument 3.8 meters tall installed on a hillside that has become a popular social media photography spot.

Walking through Tokoname, you notice that "maneki-neko blend naturally into everyday life here." Beyond the designated tourist areas, lucky cats are displayed all over the town, and you get the sense that for local residents, maneki-neko are neither a "trade tool" nor a "tourist attraction" but simply "part of daily life." Visiting the production area changes the way you see the maneki-neko entirely.

One of the world's largest museums dedicated to the maneki-neko. It displays over 3,000 lucky cats gathered from Japan and abroad, covering a wide range of topics from the history and culture of the maneki-neko to what it is called in countries around the world. The on-site shop carries rare collector's items and regular stock, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the deep world of the lucky cat.

Coming here makes you realize that "what I knew about maneki-neko until now was just the tip of the iceberg." The sight of more than 3,000 pieces lined up, from antique Edo-period pieces to works by contemporary artists, is overwhelming, and your ability to appreciate and evaluate a maneki-neko clearly changes after a visit. For maneki-neko enthusiasts, this may be the "true sacred site."