The beckoning cat temple, Gōtokuji, is so famous among international tourists that the spot is probably on your itinerary for Tokyo. If you aren’t in a hurry, we recommend stopping by one of the cafes or shops near Gōtokuji. Quite a few of them have cutely designed maneki-neko products! The sweets created by artisans are perfect to rejuvenate your tired body, and you might find some souvenirs to bring home, too.
Table of Contents
- Mahorodou Sougetsu (まほろ堂 蒼月)
- Penguin Pastry (ペンギンペストリー)
- Utsuwanowada (うつわのわ田)
- RARASAND (ララサンド)
- Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire (梟焙煎研究所)
- Former Tamagawa Line Tram Car (旧玉電車両)
Mahorodou Sougetsu (まほろ堂 蒼月)
If you like dorayaki, a classic Japanese honey pancake sandwich with sweet red bean paste, visit Mahorodou Sougetsu. The modern Japanese confectionery maker has the lucky cat-inspired dorayaki, Manekineko-dora (まねきねこどら). The beckoning cat is burned on one side of the pancake. Because the pancake is fried with butter instead of oil, Mahorodou Sougetsu’s dorayaki smells nicer, like a castella cake. The paddies go really well with the less-sweetened homemade bean paste!
The Manekineko-dora isn’t the only sweet loved by its customers. The popular confectionery shop in Setagaya offers incredible traditional sweets. The elegantly flavored Aomame Daifuku (青豆大福) and Sweet Potato Yokan (芋ようかん) are Mahorodou Sougetsu’s top signatory traditional confectioneries. Of course, limited edition sweets that match the season and special events, such as Halloween.
Often, people would love to have a cup of tea or coffee when having dessert. Aware of this habit, Mahorodou Sougetsu has a stylish cafe space that serves drinks such as coffee and matcha green tea. The drinks menu is filled with specially selected drinks that go well with Mahorodou Sougetsu’s confectionary. With a bowl of matcha tea, for example, you are ready to taste the beautiful Japanese sweets!
Mahorodou Sougetsu’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Mahorodou Sougetsu is open from 10 am to 6 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.
- If Monday is a public holiday, it is closed on Tuesday.
- Gōtokuji is a 3-minute walk from Miyanosaka Station (宮の坂駅) on the Tokyu-Setagaya Line (東急世田谷線) or a 7-minute walk from Odakyu’s Gotokuji Station (豪徳寺駅).
Penguin Pastry (ペンギンペストリー)
Just a 2-minute walk from Gotokuji Station, Penguin Pastry is a Western pastry shop that has a few lucky cat-inspired sweets. The Penguin Roll (ペンギンロール) is the bakery’s signatory cake. The fluffy sponge cake is filled with plenty of cream. Once you try it, you will never forget its deliciousness.
Among the deliciously looking cakes, there should be a couple of plastic bags on the shell with images of maneki-neko printed. They are Penguin Pastry’s beckoning cat-related products called Gōtokuji Nyanko-suzu (豪徳寺にゃんこ鈴). Instead of molding the sweet into a cat shape, the Gōtokuji Nyanko-suzu is in the shape of a cat’s bell. Premium-grade honey and eggs are used to make the pastry. The cat bells come in a couple of flavors, including original, matcha, strawberry, and seasonal flavors.
Penguin Pastry’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Penguin Pastry is open from 11 am to 6 pm from Thursday to Monday.
- Refer to the cake shop’s Business Calendar for additional days that Penguin Pastry might be closed.
- The cake shop is a 2-minute walk from Odakyu’s Gotokuji Station (豪徳寺駅).
Utsuwanowada (うつわのわ田)
For those who love checking out or collecting tableware, Utsuwanowada is a great shop in Setagaya. Stylish pottery and glassware made by artists from different parts of Japan (especially Kyūshū and Okinawa) can be found here! The tableware on the shelf is gathered by the owner, Wada-san (和田さん). With her sharp eyes, you will be impressed by the quality and fashionable daily utensils she brought back! Even if you don’t plan to buy any, it would still be fun to look at those unique works from various artists!
Because Wada-san worked in the apparel industry before she opened her shop, she is very good at balancing out tableware with distinctive designs. Her talent in color-matching can easily be told once you enter Utsuwanowada.
While in Japanese only, small cards with the pottery’s information, such as origin and kiln, are often placed next to the pottery. So, you would see customers who want to understand more about the product that they are interested in would read the cards carefully. With the translation app’s help, you can learn some interesting things about Japanese pottery!
In fact, most Utsuwanowada’s customer spend a long time in the shop before they make the final decision. The fun lies within choosing and comparing the tableware. Many customers who live close by keep coming back because they find dining at home becomes more fun with Utsuwanowada’s tableware. Most importantly, the high-quality bowls and plates can make the food more delicious!
Utsuwanowada’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Utsuwanowada is open from 11 am to 6 pm from Thursday to Tuesday.
- The shop is a 2-minute walk from Odakyu’s Gotokuji Station (豪徳寺駅) or Setagaya Line’s Yamashita Station (山下駅).
RARASAND (ララサンド)
For those who didn’t have enough of the lucky cat’s cuteness at Gōtokuji, stop by RARASAND on the way back to Gotokuji Station. The cafe specializes in making beckoning cat monaka and ningyo-yaki. No matter which one you choose, the Japanese confectionery is in the shape of a Gōtokuji’s maneki-neko. In particular, the ningyo-yaki is the perfect street food to enjoy around the Lucky Cat Temple.
RARASAND started off as an imagawa-yaki (今川焼) maker (similar to a ningyo-yaki but in round shape). Utilizing the skills of making Imagawa-yaki, the cafe’s ningyo-yaki is incredible. This is why the cafe is loved by those who have tried their crispy maneki-nako-shaped ningyo-yaki called Shōfuku-yaki (招福焼). Plus, the staff at RARASAND are friendly and speaks English. You will understand why there is usually a queue in front of RARASAND after trying the tender cakes made here.
The Shōfuku-yaki comes in different flavors. From the typical sweet bean paste to seasonal flavors such as chestnut bean paste, you will surely find a flavor that you like. Even savory flavors are on the menu!
If you have time for a morning or afternoon tea at RARASAND, order a matcha and maneki-nako monaka set (抹茶と招き猫のもなかセット). What beats having a traditional wafer confectionery with a cup of matcha green tea? On a hot summer day, how about a scoop of ice cream with flavors originating from Japan? The ice cream also comes with a maneki-neko monaka!
RARASAND’s Business Hours and Access Information
- RARASAND is open from 10 am to 6 pm.
- The cafe is a 3-minute walk from Odakyu’s Gotokuji Station (豪徳寺駅) or Setagaya Line’s Yamashita Station (山下駅)..
Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire (梟焙煎研究所)
If you are a coffee lover, Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire is the place to go. You will find the locally rumored “ultimate espresso” here. Moreover, the pastries sold at the cafe are made by the owner, Takayama-san, who worked at a Michelin three-star restaurant in France. No wonder why the cakes and pastries here are incredibly delicious!
Refer to our Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire article for more information!
Former Tamagawa Line Tram Car (旧玉電車両)
If you are a rail fan, take the Setagaya Line to Miyanosaka Station (宮の坂駅). The former Tamagawa Line tram car at the square in front of Miyasaka Civic Center (宮坂区民センター) should be fascinating to you. The tram car was completed in 1925. It was a wooden car before it was converted into a steel car in 1953. But its wooden flooring remains and can still be seen today. Before it was retired in 1990, the tram was running on the Enoshima Dentetsu Line.
During the day, anyone can enter the old car to explore and rest. Depending on your age, the carefully preserved vehicles might give off a nostalgic atmosphere, as if time has stopped. If you have watched the famous Ghibli movie Spirited Away, the tram car might remind you of the tram Chihiro boarded on her way to Zeniba.
Visit the Lucky Cat Temple: Gōtokuji
The reason that you are reading this article is probably because Gōtokuji is on your itinerary for your upcoming trip to Tokyo. Whether it is the case or not, we highly recommend you also going through our article on Gōtokuji. Why? Because information about where to find the hidden maneki-neko is included! We are sure your visit would be more memorable with the extra knowledge that you will gain from reading it.
So, refer to our article on The Beckoning Cat Temple, Gōtokuji!
Explore Tokyo’s Hidden Gem, Kichijōji
If you are after a less busy part of Tokyo to spend a day and are unsure where to head, we recommend visiting Kichijōji, a few stations away from Shinjuku.
While Kichijōji is in Tokyo, it still has its own vibe! Hidden in the urban jungle are many unique cafés and shops! We are sure you will be pleasantly surprised by the neighborhood that was voted “The Most Desirable Area to Live” in Tokyo!
Refer to our Kichijōji article for more information!
