Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku-Jinja: Kamakura’s Shrine of Prosperity

Tucked into a quiet valley in Kamakura, Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku-Jinja Shrine is one of the city’s most unique and intriguing spiritual sites. Known as the “money-washing shrine,” it’s a place where visitors come to cleanse their coins in hopes of multiplying their wealth.

A Shrine with a Legend

According to legend, the shrine was founded in the 12th century after Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, had a divine dream. The shrine is dedicated to Benzaiten, a goddess of wealth, music, and good fortune, and Ugafuku-no-kami, a deity of water and harvest.

The Ritual of Washing Money

Visitors enter the shrine through a small cave and are greeted by a tranquil spring. Here, it’s customary to wash coins or bills in the sacred water, a ritual believed to bring prosperity and blessings. Many people bring their wallets for a symbolic renewal of their financial luck.

Getting There

The shrine is a 20-minute walk from Kamakura Station or a short hike from nearby hiking trails, mostly uphill.