Zeniarai Benten (Ugafuku-jinja)

(Source : PIXTA)

Zeniarai Benten is a 20-minute walk from Kamakura Station. This shrine is related to Minamotono Yoritomo, the general of Kamakura shogunate, and it is said your luck for money and business increases if you wash your money with the water of the well in the cave and clean your mind and behavior. Despite it being far from the main street of Kamakura, the shrine is always crowded. Most of the visitors come to wash their money. But this shrine is also known for enshrining “Ichikishima Hime,” the God of water who appears in Japanese ancient myth.

(Source: PIXTA)

“Oku-gu” in the cave

Oku-gu is in the end of the dark cave. There is spring water called “Zeniarai mizu,” which means water for washing money, and it is said your savings will increase if you put your money in the basket and wash it with the spring water. This spring water is designated as “Kamakura Gomeisui,” the top five waters in Kamakura.

(Source: PIXTA)

Washing money

Here are the instructions on how to wash money. First, put your money in the basket. And then pour the water with a ladle three times. For bills, just pour a little water on the edge, you don’t have to wash them. After, wipe your money and put back in your wallet! It is said you should use the washed money for something meaningful.

(Source: PIXTA)

Wish for good luck with charms

Since Zeniarai Benten is related to money, they have a lot of golden good luck charms. Of the charms, “Otakara Koban,” which has a shape of Japanese ancient coin Koban, is especially popular. They also have many kinds of charms such as strapped ones as well as ones with Japanese characters.