Kamakura's Zeniarai-Benten Shrine

Praying for financial success

Steve Morton Oct 28, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>A large `torii` (gate), marks the entrance to this otherwise invisible shrine</p>

<p>In order to reach this shrine you have to walk along a  tunnel which has been cut through a high rock wall</p>

<p>A row of `torii` welcomes your arrival</p>

<p>Interestingly, Zeniarai Benten contains many Buddhist and Shinto statues</p>

<p>Amongst the many religious monuments are these guardian deities</p>

<p>A small shrine located next to Zeniarai Benten`s main attraction, its cave!</p>

<p>The reason for this otherwise small shrine`s popularity is `Zebuarau`, meaning 'coin washing' in English, where people come here to pray for financial success</p>

<p>Along with washing their money, people can also make an offering or prayer to wish for money</p>

<p>Located out the back of the courtyard are several smaller shrines</p>

<p>Another scary looking guardian deity</p>

<p>Despite only being a couple of meters away from the caves, the back gardens of Zeniarai Benten are surprisingly peaceful</p>

<p>The winding staircases on the way back down to the main courtyard</p>

<p>Located next to this small shrine is a  pretty garden containing a little pond</p>

<p>Some very colorful carp swimming around this pond</p>

Hidden from the outside world by its high rock walls, Zeniarai Benten (Zeniarai-Benzaiten) Shrine is one of Kamakura`s most popular places despite its relatively small size. Legend has it you can double your money by washing it within the natural springs that are located at the back of this shrine.

Equally interesting, is the fact that Zeniarai Benton is one of the few remaining places in Japan where you can see a clear fusion of Buddhist and Shinto Elements. This can be illustrated by the fact that the Buddhist goddess Nenziatan and the Shinto deity Ugafukuji are both enshrined here

More info

Find out more about Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine.

Steve Morton @steve.morton138

Yokohama based content creator, editor, and researcher. Steven likes, eating, reading and traveling on a streamlined budget guaranteed to make any self-respecting local gulp. When not too busy with work assignments, Steven attempts to not get lost while following Japanese tourist maps.Follow me o...