|
|
Path to front gate of Gotokuji Temple known as the Ii Clan's family temple. Over 300 lords (incuding 6 Hikone Castle lords), wives, concubines, and children related to the Ii Clan from Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture, are buried here.
|
|
|
Path to front gate of Gotokuji Temple.
|
|
Somon front gate of Gotokuji Temple.
|
|
Somon front gate of Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya, Tokyo. On the left corner is a historic site stone marker for Ii Naosuke's gravesite. 豪徳寺
|
|
Historic site marker for Ii Naosuke's gravesite. Gotokuji Temple is known as the Ii Clan's family temple. Over 300 lords, wives, concubines, and children related to the Ii Clan, from Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture, are buried here.
|
|
After going through the Somon front gate, we see the pagoda and the Butsuden Buddha Hall straight ahead.
|
|
Butsuden Buddha Hall straight ahead.
|
|
Incense burner and Butsuden Buddha Hall.
|
|
Butsuden Buddha Hall, Gotokuji temple, Setagaya, Tokyo. This was renovated by Lord Ii Naotaka's wife and oldest daughter. 仏殿
|
|
Roof ridge of Butsuden includes the family crest for the Ii Clan. Gotokuji temple.
|
|
Butsuden Buddha Hall
|
|
Inside Butsuden Buddha Hall 仏殿
|
|
|
Butsuden Buddha Hall side view.
|
|
Butsuden Buddha Hall and the Hondo main worship hall behind on the right.
|
|
Gotokuji temple's Hondo Main Hall 本堂
|
|
Gotokuji temple's Hondo Main Hall, Setagaya, Tokyo. Ii clan's family temple. 本堂
|
|
Hondo Main Hall
|
|
Inside Hondo Main Hall
|
|
Ii clan crest on rain water barrel under the roof of Gotokuji temple Hondo Hall, Setagaya, Tokyo.
|
|
Hondo Main Hall
|
|
View from Hondo Main Hall
|
|
Bell tower
|
|
|
|
Three-story pagoda
|
|
Three-story pagoda, recently built.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Temple office sells souvenirs such as the maneki neko beckoning cat in various sizes (and prices).
|
|
Temple office sells maneki neko beckoning cat in various sizes (and prices).
|
|
Path to the temple cemetery where the Ii clan is buried.
|
|
Gate to Maneki Neko Beckoning Cat Temple. There are a few theories (or legends) as to how the maneki neko (Beckoning Cat) was created. One theory comes from this temple.
|
|
Maneki Neko Beckoning Cat Temple is a small worship hall dedicated to the beckoning cat. On the left of the temple, notice a little roofed shelf. 猫観音を祀る招猫殿
|
|
Inside Beckoning Cat Temple. The altar's objects of worship are numerous beckoning cat dolls.
|
|
One day, Lord Ii Naotaka was doing falconry and was on his way home when it started to rain. He sought shelter under a tree at the temple. Then he saw a cat raising its paw...He went to the cat and then lightning struck the tree he was standing under. In appreciation, Naotaka gave donations to the temple.
|
|
On the left of the Beckoning Cat Temple is a shelf where you can offer your lucky cat after it has brought you good luck.
|
|
Shelf for beckoning cats, maneki neko at Gotokuji temple in Setagaya, Tokyo.
|
|
Shelf for beckoning cats, maneki neko. Gotokuji temple, Setagaya, Tokyo.
|
|
Beckoning cats, maneki neko, which did their duty for their owners who now offer them to the temple as a gesture of thanks. Gotokuji temple, Tokyo.
|
|
Gotokuji temple votive tablet. This cat connection with Ii Naotaka gave rise to Hiko-nyan, the official mascot of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture.
|
|
Way to cemetery. Six Hikone Castle lords, including Ii Naosuke, have graves here. Setagaya was the domain of the Ii clan who often worked in the Tokugawa government.
|
|
Straight ahead is the grave of Lord Ii Naotaka, the 2nd lord of Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture.
|
|
Turn left and you see this. Ii clan graves on both sides. Lord Ii Naosuke's grave is at the very end on the left.
|
|
Lord Ii Naosuke's grave is at the very end on the left.
|
|
Grave of Lord Ii Naosuke (1815-1860), the lord of Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture and Chief Minister of the Tokugawa Shogun's government. Gotokuji temple, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. 井伊直弼の墓 豪徳寺
|
|
Only Ii Naosuke's grave has a sign explaining about him.
|
|
Grave of Lord Ii Naosuke (1815-1860), the lord of Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture and Chief Minister of the Tokugawa Shogun's government. Gotokuji temple, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. 井伊直弼の墓 豪徳寺
|
|
Gravestone of Ii Naosuke.
|
|
Right side of Lord Ii Naosuke's grave.
|
|
Tree of white camellias grow about Lord Ii Naosuke's grave.
|
|
Grave of Lord Ii Naosuke's wife.
|
|
|
Grave of Lord Ii Naohide (1755-1789). He served as Tairo Chief Minister in the Tokugawa government. Gotokuji temple, Setagaya, Tokyo 井伊直幸
|
|
Grave of Lord Ii Naotaka's eldest daughter who donated a lot to the temple. 井伊直孝長女
|
|
|
|
Grave of Lord Ii Naotaka (1590-1659), 2nd lord of Hikone, Shiga. Gotokuji temple, Setagaya, Tokyo 井伊直孝
|
|
Grave of Lord Ii Naoyoshi (1727-1754), Gotokuji temple, Setagaya, Tokyo 井伊直禔
|
|
Grave of Lord Ii Naotsune (1693-1710), Gotokuji temple, Setagaya, Tokyo 井伊直恒
|
|
Grave of Lord Ii Naonori on right.
|
|
Grave of Lord Ii Naonori (1848-1904), Gotokuji temple, Setagaya, Tokyo 井伊直憲の墓
|
|
Six Jizo
|
|
Higashimon East Gate (closed)
|
|
Ii family crest on East Gate
|
|
The temple is surrounded by a wall with barbed wire.
|
|
On New Year's Eve, Gotokuji temple allows people to ring the temple bell to ring out the old year in a ceremony called Joya-no-kane.
|
|
The line of people got longer and longer as midnight approached.
|
|
Quite a few people braved the cold to ring the temple bell on New Year's Eve on Dec. 31, 2014.
|
|
Temple bell in sight. Had to wait about an hour.
|
|
Gotokuji's temple bell on New Year's Eve.
|
|
Ringing Gotokuji's temple bell on New Year's Eve.
|
|
Each person got to ring the bell only once.
|
|
Gotokuji Station on early New Year's morning.
|
|
|
Chiyoda Line running at 3 am on New Year's morning.
|
|
Chiyoda Line running at 3 am on New Year's morning.
|
|
Chiyoda Line running at 3 am on New Year's morning with these ladies who gave New Year's prayers at a shrine.
|
|
Odakyu Line Gotokuji Station 豪徳寺駅
|
|
Odakyu Line Gotokuji Station 豪徳寺駅
|
|
Odakyu Line Gotokuji Station platform 豪徳寺駅
|
|
|
Narrow road from Gotokuji Station to Gotokuji Temple. Cars just whiz by.
|
|
|
|
|
