Benten Cave — Attraction in Kamakura

溢れる河川の水害を防ぐ祈りは、この御社からも発せられておりまする『方策は下記記載なりや』……と、語るは、救世観音様→『こほん。河川の救済ゆえに、救済観音様とお呼びあそべ？ねぇ、弘法大師様よ』『いま、あなた？と、言おうとされましたな？やんちゃが過ぎますぞ』『ほほほほほ……して、ガンダーラは見付かりまして？』『それは空海の役目よな？我は筆の有路を求めたに過ぎぬ。写経でありました』『あ"ー"、地獄に納めておるが構わぬか？』『救済になれば』『う"む"』『地獄のような声ですわね？』…地獄大社が閻魔なのだが『神の御社は上だが、地の底は地獄大社ゆえな(笑)ガラガラガラ♪』『して、空海様よ、河川の響きは止まらぬか？』『誰ぞ人柱など捧げておらぬかや？はて？南区やりおったな？→中国らを真似たか？饅頭より人柱…川が人を喰うことを覚えてしまうのに』『走水は？』『ありゃ神事の対決ゆえに別次元だろう。鎌倉の海には２０年に一度の、海の大祓いを行え、と、さんざん鎌倉の大佛に伝えたが、回向も忘れたかのぅ。鎌倉の壊滅は伝わらなんだか？』『被災者も居らぬ』『そわ、目撃も居らぬか…』……いそいそと神の資料をほぐす『あやややや、高台に逃げた輩は戻らずに地を離れとる。噂すら消えたのだなぁwあかんあかん！』『海の大祓い→回向に伝えたが、「海光山 慈照院...

The Benten Cave at this temple is the kind of place that makes you whisper without even realizing it.

You duck under a bright red torii, step inside & suddenly the world gets quiet...lit only by flickering candles & stone carvings along the walls.

The air is cool & damp, carrying that mix of incense & stone that feels timeless. Statues of Benzaiten (the goddess of music, knowledge, and all-around good fortune) line the rock & you can’t help but slow down. It’s not flashy, not Instagram-spectacular in the usual sense...it’s better. It feels like a secret.

If Hōjō Pond is where your brain exhales, this cave is where your soul shuts...

Don't miss getting into this cave. So calm inside, cool, and relaxingly quiet. I went there in mid-summer (August Obon-holiday), and it is so amazing. No wonder it was a praying place to focus my mind. Quite creepy because of a bit dark inside, but amazing. It is not recommended for those afraid of small spaces, wet, and dark, but I suggest you challenge it if you go there with reliable friends. Have to crouch a bit to get through the tunnel inside, so please be aware of it.

P.S. Please note this is a...