How to Enjoy a Maneki Neko Spot Tour
There are three main ways to enjoy Maneki Neko spots: ① the "worship type" — visiting temples and shrines to receive blessings, spiritual power, and goshuin stamps; ② the "purchase experience type" — visiting production regions, kilns, and specialty shops to choose a lucky cat in person; and ③ the "learning type" — exploring museums and resource centers to deepen your knowledge of the history and culture. Choosing a spot that matches your purpose leads to a much richer experience.
Visit temples and shrines to receive blessings, luck, and goshuin stamps. Gotokuji Temple, Imado Shrine, and Jishoin are the standout examples. Well suited to travel and spiritual pilgrimage.
Visit production regions, kilns, and specialty stores to choose a Maneki Neko in person. Tokoname, Seto, and Shigaraki are the key destinations. Ideal for buying for yourself or as a gift.
Visit museums and resource centers to learn about the history and culture of Maneki Neko. The Maneki Neko Museum (Seto) is the prime example. Well suited to those who want to gain deeper knowledge.
Visit for giant Maneki Neko and unique displays. Tokonyan in Tokoname and giant monuments across Japan are popular draws. Ideal for those looking for great photo opportunities.
Kanto Area (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama & More)
- Gotokuji Temple (Setagaya) — The Manekineko-do Hall and Cat Mound. The leading candidate for the birthplace of Maneki Neko
- Imado Shrine (Taito) — Imado-yaki pottery and a sacred site for love connections
- Jishoin Temple (Shinjuku) — The "Cat Temple" and the legend of Ota Dokan
- Around Senso-ji Temple (Taito) — Nakamise shopping street offers a wide range of Maneki Neko goods
- Yanaka Ginza (Taito) — Known as a "cat town," this area is also rich in Maneki Neko merchandise
- Kawasaki Daishi (Kawasaki) — This temple for business prosperity has a wide range of Maneki Neko goods
- Yokohama Chinatown (Yokohama) — A fusion of Chinese "Zhaocai Mao" and Japanese Maneki Neko culture
- Kamakura temples and shrines — Many long-established shops handling Maneki Neko as lucky charms
- Nishiarai Daishi (Adachi, Tokyo) — A spot for praying for business prosperity
- Nikko Toshogu (Tochigi) — A center of lavish lucky charm culture
- Naritasan Shinshoji Temple (Chiba) — Maneki Neko specialty shops line the approach to this business prosperity temple
- Kawagoe (Saitama) — Many Japanese general goods shops handling Maneki Neko in this historic warehouse district
Tokai & Chubu Area (Aichi, Shizuoka, Gifu & More)
- Tokoname Ceramics Walking Path — Japan's largest Maneki Neko production region; home of "Tokonyan" (the giant lucky cat)
- Maneki Neko Museum (Seto City) — One of the world's largest specialist museums dedicated to lucky cats
- Seto City Ceramics Walking Path — Seto-yaki Maneki Neko kilns and specialty shops
- Toyota City (Mikawa region) — Famous for hybrid daruma-and-Maneki Neko lucky charms
- Atami Kinomiya Shrine (Shizuoka) — Maneki Neko charms popular at this auspicious shrine
- Gero Onsen (Gifu) — Hot spring resort souvenir shops well stocked with Maneki Neko products
- Around Ise Jingu Shrine (Mie) — Okage Yokocho shopping street has a wide range of Maneki Neko goods
Kansai Area (Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo & More)
- Fushimi Inari Taisha (Kyoto) — The head shrine for business prosperity; Maneki Neko among the souvenirs
- Nishiki Market (Kyoto) — Specialty Maneki Neko shops in "Kyoto's Kitchen"
- Around Todai-ji Temple, Nara — Maneki Neko commonly found in Japanese craft and lucky charm shops
- Shigaraki (Shiga) — A ceramics production region; Maneki Neko a noted product alongside tanuki figurines
- Imamiya Ebisu Shrine (Osaka) — The head shrine of "Ebissan," the god of business; a sacred site for commercial prosperity
- Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi (Osaka) — Many Maneki Neko specialty shops in this bustling commercial district
- Nishinomiya Shrine (Hyogo) — The head shrine of Ebisu; a crossroads of business prosperity and Maneki Neko culture
- Arima Onsen (Hyogo) — Hot spring resort souvenirs include a rich selection of Maneki Neko products
Hokkaido & Tohoku Area
- Otaru (Hokkaido) — Glass Maneki Neko from the glassblowing studios in this tourist area are a popular local specialty
- Sapporo Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade — A lineup of shops handling Maneki Neko as good luck charms for business
- Sendai & Matsushima (Miyagi) — Souvenirs featuring Tohoku's own distinctive Maneki Neko designs
- Aizuwakamatsu (Fukushima) — Maneki Neko popular as an Aizu good luck charm alongside the red cow figurine (Akabeko)
- Kakunodate & Akita — Wooden Maneki Neko carved from Akita cedar exist as local folk craft items
Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu & Okinawa Area
- The influence of western Japan's porcelain production regions extends to areas near Arita, Saga
- Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter (Okayama) — Many Maneki Neko in Japanese craft and folk art shops
- Onomichi (Hiroshima) — Famous as a "cat town"; Maneki Neko popular as a tourist souvenir
- Dogo Onsen (Ehime) — A wide range of Maneki Neko products available as hot spring resort souvenirs
- Arita Town (Saga) — Arita-yaki Maneki Neko of refined porcelain quality are well represented here
- Hakata (Fukuoka) — Maneki Neko crafted using the techniques of Hakata ningyo (Hakata dolls) are a local specialty
- Nagasaki Chinatown — A distinctive culture where Chinese-style "Zhaocai Mao" and Japanese Maneki Neko coexist
- Naha International Street (Okinawa) — A uniquely Okinawan style combining shisa lion-dog figures with Maneki Neko
"Virtual Pilgrimage" for Those Who Can't Visit in Person
For those who can't travel to faraway spots, a "virtual pilgrimage" via the official websites and social media of temples, shrines, and production regions is recommended. Gotokuji Temple, Imado Shrine, and the Maneki Neko Museum each share official information online, and many now offer online votive items and online shops as well.
Summary — Quick Reference by Spot
| Spot | Region | Type | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gotokuji Temple | Setagaya, Tokyo | Worship | Cat Mound, white cats, leading candidate for Maneki Neko birthplace |
| Imado Shrine | Asakusa, Tokyo | Worship | Love connections, Imado-yaki, goshuin popular |
| Tokoname Ceramics Walking Path | Tokoname, Aichi | Purchase Experience | Japan's largest production region; home of Tokonyan |
| Maneki Neko Museum | Seto, Aichi | Learning | One of the world's largest specialist museums |
| Otaru (Glass Studios) | Hokkaido | Purchase Experience | Glass Maneki Neko are a local specialty |
| Arita Town | Saga | Purchase Experience | Refined Arita-yaki porcelain Maneki Neko |
| Yokohama Chinatown | Kanagawa | Purchase Experience | A fusion culture of Chinese Zhaocai Mao and Japanese Maneki Neko |