Tokyo Cat Temple

Thousands of beckoning cat figures adorn Gotokuji Temple in Tokyo.

Cute objects and animals have been popular in Japan for a long time. The history of this temple can be traced back to the 15th century. Here’s the legend of how it began:

One paw in the air, a legendary cat beckoned the samurai lord towards Gotokuji Temple to escape a raging thunderstorm. Grateful for the shelter, he granted land and rice to the temple. Grateful to the cat, the temple now displays thousands of cute inviting felines, many donated by supplicants whose wishes were granted. 

Called maneki neko, these beckoning cat statues are placed at the entryways of shops and restaurants all over Japan to welcome customers (and their money) inside.