Possibly the birthplace of the maneki-neko (the waving lucky cat you see at every cash register in Japan). Legend: a poor monk's cat beckoned a samurai lord in from an approaching thunderstorm, saving him from a lightning strike; the lord became the temple's patron. Today the grounds are covered in hundreds of small ceramic cats left behind by wish-seekers. 30 minutes from Shinjuku, 35 min walking from Shimokitazawa (pleasant residential stroll).