Gotokuji

The birthplace of the maneki-neko (beckoning cat), this temple is renowned throughout the nation! According to legend from the Edo period, Hikone domain lord Ii Naotaka, returning from falcon hunting, was beckoned by a white cat at the temple gate and was able to escape a sudden thunderstorm. As a temple of the Soto Zen sect and the family temple of the Ii clan, Gotokuji has inscribed a long history. The grounds are filled with countless beckoning cats that have been offered, a truly impressive sight. The right-raised beckoning cat is said to invite good fortune, while the left-raised beckoning cat is said to beckon people. A heartwarming sacred place where cats, fellows of mine, bring about auspicious connections.