Introduction of Kamakura, Yokohama and Tokyo: Gotoku-ji Temple in Setagaya Ward of Tokyo

Gotoku-ji Temple is in Setagaya Ward of Tokyo. This temple was founded in 1480 and had been the main part of Setagaya Castle until it was dismantled in 1590. In 1633 Naotaka Ii who was the lord of Hikone Domain reclaimed this temple as Ii Family's temple.

This is the approach to Gotoku-ji Temple. I was surprised how holly it was!

This is the main entrance to Gotoku-ji Temple.

This is a Buddhist hall- so called butsuden- in which five statues of Buddha have been preserved. When Naotaka passed away, his daughter ordered a famous scalptor Shoun(1648-1710) to carve them.

This is the inner sight of butsuden.

This is another picture focused on the two statues on the right.

This is the main hall of Gotoku-ji Temple.

This is the inner sight of the main hall.

Gotoku-ji Temple is said to be the birth place of a 'Maneki-neko' which literally means a 'Beckoning Cat' or a 'Welcoming Cat'.The above picture shows a hall- Shobyo-den- in which cat dolls have been enshrined.

I bought this Welcoming Cat at Gotoku-ji Temple

Temple's office

A bell

A three storied pagoda

Around the wall of the pagoda there are scalptures of animals of the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac.

Naosuke Ii's tomb stone

PS:
1. Naosuke Ii

Iis were lords of Hikone Domain and also vassals of Tokugawa in the Edo Period in Japan. Naosuke was the 15th lord of Hikone Domain and was the second highest officer in the Tokugawa Government after Shogun. So, he was the de facto head of the government. Naosuke proceeded his policy of opening Japan to foreign countries and purged the dissidents in 1859 including Shoin Yoshida who was excuted at Ansei Purge.

Mito warriors who were againt Naoseke's forcible policy assassinated him at Sakurada-mon Gate near the Imperial Palace in 1860.