Parks

This long and narrow park extending in a north-south direction is adjacent to Shoin-jinja Shrine. It has a total area of about 15,000 square meters. With a children’s park equipped with slides and wooden playground equipment and a community of Castanopsis sieboldii, also known as Itajii Chinkapin (a species of evergreen tree considered one of the “hundred famous trees of Setagaya Ward”), that has been chosen as one of the “hundred best views of Setagaya,” the park provides a place for local residents to relax. In autumn many chinquapin nuts fall from the trees. Collecting the nuts is an activity enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Address: 4-34-2 Wakabayashi, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Access: Five-minute walk from Shōin-jinja-mae Station

It is said that this temple was established by Kira Masatada, the lord of Setagaya Castle, in 1480. The manekineko (beckoning cat) is celebrated here as a lucky charm. This comes from a legend that says that Ii Naotaka, the second daimyo of Hikone, escaped a thunderstorm when a cat at Gotoku-ji beckoned him into the temple with its paw. In the southwest section of the temple’s grounds is the grave of the Ii family. It is designated a national historic site together with the Ii family grave at Seiryo-ji Temple in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture.

Address: 2-24-7 Gotokuji, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Temple gates are open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from spring to autumn and 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from autumn to spring.
Access: Three-minute walk from Miyanosaka Station