Statues in Benten-kutsu Cave

Explore a part of Buddhist culture at Benten-kutsu Cave

Hana Joy Feb 04, 2013 - 1 min read

The entrance to the cave is easy to overlook

Each statue represents a god or goddess of something

There are many statues carved into the cave walls

Placing your own statue increases your chances of becoming wealthy

Each statue is also lit by candles, which you can purchase and place at the base of the one you are praying to

Benten-kutsu Cave and Benten-do Hall are located in Hase-dera Temple, Kamakura. The entrance to the cave itself is easy to overlook to the casual visitor, but the inside is well worth a visit. The statues themselves are very old, but still hold relevance today as people still come to set lighted candles at their base and ask for help with various areas of life. The interactive nature of the cave is really unique, although the ceiling is quite low and can be difficult for those with a taller stature.

More info

Find out more about Hasedera Temple.

Hana Joy @hana.joy

I'm working here in Japan as a member of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET). Originally from the Northern California area, I am a recent graduate with a degree in International Affairs.Living in Japan provides the opportunity for unique and continued insights into the local flavor of a...