Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine

About

Caption: The atmospheric tunnel entrance and torii gates leading into Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine, carved into the rock cliffs of Kamakura. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine (銭洗弁財天宇賀福神社), popularly known as Zeniarai Benten, is a hidden gem nestled in a valley completely surrounded by steep rocky cliffs in western Kamakura. 🔗 The shrine's name literally means "money-washing Benzaiten," reflecting its unique tradition where visitors wash their money in sacred spring water believed to multiply wealth.

The shrine represents a rare surviving example of shinbutsu-shugo—the fusion of Buddhist and Shinto elements. 🔗 The deity worshipped here merges Ugafukujin (a traditional water spirit symbolized by a stone snake with a human head) with Benzaiten, the Buddhist goddess associated with water, prosperity, music, and eloquence. 🔗

Founding Legend: Minamoto Yoritomo, founder of the Kamakura Shogunate, established the shrine in 1185 after the kami Ugafukujin appeared to him in a dream revealing the location of a magical spring. The dream occurred on the day of the snake, in the month of the snake, of the year of the snake, leading to the shrine's dedication to Benzaiten, a goddess strongly associated with snakes and dragons. 🔗

Money-Washing Tradition: The tradition began in 1257 when Kamakura's ruler Hojo Tokiyori came to worship and recommended that the faithful wash their coins, proclaiming that Ugafukujin would multiply them and grant prosperity. This tradition continues over 750 years later. 🔗

The shrine can only be reached through a dimly lit tunnel carved through the rock in the late 1950s. 🔗 Upon emerging, visitors encounter a succession of crooked wooden torii gates creating an atmosphere of both solemnity and rustic charm.

Cultural & Religious Significance

2025 Special Significance: As 2025 is the Year of the Snake, this Benzaiten shrine dedicated to the snake deity holds enhanced spiritual importance throughout the year, with Mi-no-hi (snake days) considered particularly auspicious for wealth rituals.

Special Snake Days (2025):

• Mi-no-hi (Regular Snake Days - every 12 days): January 12, 24; February 5, 17; March 1, 13, 25; April 6, 18, 30; May 12, 24; June 5, 17, 29; July 11, 23; August 4, 16, 28; September 9, 21; October 3, 15, 27; November 8, 20; December 2, 14, 26 🔗
• Tsuchi-no-to-mi Days (Most Auspicious - every 60 days): March 1, April 30, June 29, August 28, October 27, December 26—these are the most powerful days for the money-washing ritual and attract significantly larger crowds 🔗

Visiting Information

Hours:

• Shrine grounds: Open 24 hours (though extremely dark after sunset)
• Shrine office and money-washing: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM daily
• Last entry for coin-washing: 4:00 PM 🔗

Admission: Free entry; ritual supplies (basket, incense, candle) cost ¥100 per person 🔗

Getting There: From Kamakura Station (West Exit): 20-25 minutes walking (approximately 1.5 km). Head northwest from the west exit, following signs toward Sasuke district. The walk passes through residential areas and involves some uphill sections on winding roads. Final approach is up a steep slope—comfortable walking shoes strongly recommended. 🔗

Alternative: Taxi from Kamakura Station takes approximately 10 minutes. 🔗

Best Timing:

• Weekday mornings for quietest experience
• Avoid snake days (Mi-no-hi) and holidays when crowds can be significant
• Early morning visits (8:00-9:00 AM) offer the most serene atmosphere 🔗

The Experience

The Money-Washing Ritual (Zeniarai): Upon arrival, collect ritual supplies from a priest: a small bamboo basket (zaru), a bundle of incense, and a votive candle—all for ¥100. 🔗 After lighting the candle at one of several altars and using its flame to light the incense, participants enter the Okugo—the inner sanctuary carved directly into the rock.

This cave sanctuary is where the sacred spring water flows, believed to possess wealth-multiplying properties. Visitors place coins, paper bills, or even credit cards into their baskets and use wooden ladles to pour the sacred water over their money five or more times. 🔗 The tradition holds that washed money should be spent rather than saved, as spending it allows the prosperity to circulate and multiply.

Sacred Cave Interior: The Okugo cave is filled with paper crane strings, donated torii gates, and the constant sound of flowing spring water—one of the Five Famous Waters of Kamakura (Zeniarai Mizu). 🔗 The air inside is humid and cool. Visitors must take care not to let cameras or belongings get wet from the spring water.

Shrine Grounds: Beyond the money-washing cave, the shrine complex features multiple small shrines, tranquil ponds with koi, waterfalls, and red bridges that create beautiful, contemplative scenes. 🔗 The entire area is enclosed by dramatic rock walls that enhance the sense of being in a hidden, sacred space.

Unique Offerings: A distinctive custom at Zeniarai Benzaiten is the offering of raw eggs, a favorite food of Ugafukujin, the snake deity. Eggs can be purchased on-site and placed at designated offering spots. 🔗

Practical Visiting Tips

Cultural Etiquette:

• Bow respectfully when passing through torii gates
• Maintain quiet voices within the shrine grounds
• Follow proper ritual sequence: light candle → light incense → wash money
• Dry bills thoroughly after washing to prevent damage
• Spend washed money rather than saving it to activate the prosperity blessing 🔗

Photography:

• Tunnel entrance: Best lighting mid-morning to early afternoon
• Torii gate succession: Excellent photo opportunities throughout the day
• Cave interior: Very low light; high ISO or flash may be needed (be respectful of worshippers)
• Take care not to get camera equipment wet in the humid cave environment

Crowd Avoidance:

• Visit on weekday mornings, especially Tuesday-Thursday
• Avoid all snake days (Mi-no-hi) if seeking quiet experience
• First entry at 8:00 AM offers most peaceful atmosphere
• December through February generally have fewer tourists

Practical Preparation:

• Wear comfortable walking shoes for uphill approach
• Bring small towel to dry hands and money after washing
• Have ¥100 coin ready for ritual supplies
• Bring bills and coins you plan to wash (popular to wash ¥10,000 note)
• Allow 45-60 minutes total (including walk from station)

Nearby Attractions:

• Sasuke Inari Shrine: Just 5-10 minutes walk; spiritually linked to Zeniarai Benzaiten. Visiting both shrines together is believed to amplify good fortune. Features hundreds of red torii gates and fox statues. 🔗
• Genjiyama Park: 10-minute walk; forest park with cherry blossoms in spring
• Daibutsu Hiking Course: 90-minute scenic trail connecting to Kotoku-in Temple's Great Buddha

Integration with Itinerary: Zeniarai Benzaiten works well in a western Kamakura walking route: Kamakura Station → Sasuke Inari Shrine (10 min walk) → Zeniarai Benzaiten (5 min) → Genjiyama Park (10 min) → Daibutsu Hiking Trail to Great Buddha (40 min). This creates a half-day itinerary combining spiritual sites, nature walks, and cultural experiences.

Important Notes:

• Cave environment is humid with wet surfaces; protect electronic devices and be cautious of slippery footing
• While the tradition uses Japanese yen, some visitors wash foreign currency or credit cards
• The 20-25 minute uphill walk and tunnel entrance make this shrine moderately challenging for visitors with mobility limitations
• No wheelchair accessibility through the rock tunnel
• On Tsuchi-no-to-mi days (6 times in 2025), expect significant crowds and potential waits of 30+ minutes
• While money-washing is often approached lightheartedly, remember this is an active place of worship with deep spiritual significance

Location: View on Google Maps

Source: attractions/kamakura/zeniarai-benzaiten-shrine.md