Zeniarai Benten Shrine — Attraction in Kamakura

From Kamakura Station, take the West Exit and walk for about 25 minutes. Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine was founded in 1185 by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate. According to legend, Yoritomo had a dream in which a god told him to find a sacred spring in Kamakura. He discovered the spring and built the shrine to Benzaiten, the goddess of wealth, music, and eloquence.

Zeniarai Benzaiten is famous for its ritual of washing money in the sacred spring. It is believed that money washed here will multiply and bring prosperity. Visitors often come to the shrine to purify their money and pray for financial success.

Money washed at the Zeniarai Benzaiten is believed to increase financial wealth, and it is considered even more auspicious to spend the money rather than save it. By spending the money, it is believed that the wealth will circulate and bring even greater prosperity. In addition, if you are lucky enough to see a white snake, which is the messenger of Benzaiten, within the shrine grounds, it is said that your luck will increase even further.

It is also recommended that you visit the nearby Sasuke Inari Shrine when you go to Zeniarai Benzaiten. The Sasuke Inari Shrine is about a 10-minute walk from Zeniarai Benzaiten and is especially popular with those seeking good luck and career success. Known as the "Success Inari," the shrine is said to have been restored by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura shogunate, after receiving a divine message from the Inari god.

Therefore, by praying for financial luck at the Zeniarai Benzaiten and then for career and success at the Sasuke Inari Shrine, you can improve your overall luck.

If you visit these two shrines, it's possible to walk to the Great Buddha of Kamakura at Kotokuin Temple. In mild seasons or during the fall foliage season, the surrounding mountains are...

"Zeni Arai" literary means Money Wash. If you wish financial success or prosperous business, this shrine is the best match. The shrine is located at the end of the cave, Ugafuku Jinja Shrine. One day in the year 1185, Kamakura era's Shogun, Yoritomo Minamoto had a dream in which the deity Ugafukujin delivered a divine message. He was told, "there is a miraculous spring that gushes out of the rocks in a valley. Go there and worship the deities of Shinto, and peace will come to the people." Yoritomo went to the valley and found the spring, and established the shrine enshrined Ugafukujin deity. Here is how to pray at this shrine. First, go to purification fountain and wash your hands and rinse your mouth. Then, stop by the reception desk and buy a candle and incense sticks for JPY100. Pick up a bamboo basket. Put the fire on the sticks and offer them to the main shrine and pray here. Then go to the shrine in a rock cave. Pray here as well. Take some money out from your wallet and place in the basket. Put the spring water on them. You really do not have to wash the money, especially paper bills, just bathe on the edge of the bills. It is believed that if you spend money that has been washed in this natural spring water, it will increase many times and come back to you. Keep the money and make good use of them. Make sure, you have to use them for the good and...

Money washing temple, good ambience. Hidden in the hills on the edge of Kamakura, is one of the most unique shrines of Kanto. Zeniarai Benten Shrine is completely surrounded by steep rock walls, and is entirely invisible from the outside. The shrine can only be accessed through a tunnel penetrating the wall, or via a narrow footpath on the backside. Inside this small “oasis” is a dark cave, in which a spring emerges from the rock. Legend has it, that money washed in the waters of this spring, will double.

With this legend it isn’t surprising that both people in need of money, and people starting a new business adventure, come here to worship and pray for multiplication of their finances . For a novice temple visitor, it can seem intimidating to figure out the correct money-washing etiquette. If you are unsure what to do, simply observe and copy your fellow shrine-goers, and Learn the money washing ritual! Legend goes that if you wash your money in the spring, it will multiply. The basket rental, incense and candle costs ¥100 per person. Expect a wait, the shrine is small and the demands are high, especially on the weekend. Visiting hours start everyday from 8 a.m....