Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Spring
Coins, a cave and a spring revealed in a dream
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Access has not been verified. Check current local guidance before planning a visit.
Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan
Read the sourcesVisit essentials
A quick read before you go
- Access
- The shrine is at 2-25-16 Sasuke, Kamakura.
- Etiquette
- Keep photography considerate, avoid handling another visitor’s offerings, and follow staff…
Overview
At Zeniarai Benzaiten in Kamakura, the spring flows through a cave where visitors wash coins in small baskets. The gesture makes water central to the shrine’s devotional life.
Why this place is sacred
Benzaiten and the serpent-associated Ugafukujin meet in a setting with both Shinto and Buddhist elements. The belief that washed money increases is a devotional expectation, not a financial promise.
Experience and orientation
The cave water trough is the focus of the visit. Make space for people praying and for those waiting to use the water.
Context and lineage
According to the founding story presented by JNTO, Ugafukujin appeared to Minamoto no Yoritomo in a dream and revealed a spring’s location. Yoritomo established a shrine there, and the place became associated with prosperity. The spring inside the cave is therefore more than a convenient washing place: it is the landmark named in the revelation.
The shrine’s foundation is traditionally dated to 1185. That traditional date and the dream account should remain clearly attributed rather than presented as independently documented events.
Traditions and practice
The shrine provides baskets and ritual items for coin washing. Ask at the office for current guidance; following the sequence locally is preferable to treating it as an improvised game.
Shinto
ActiveBenzaiten and the serpent-associated Ugafukujin meet in a setting with both Shinto and Buddhist elements. The belief that washed money increases is a devotional expectation, not a financial promise.
The shrine provides baskets and ritual items for coin washing. Ask at the office for current guidance; following the sequence locally is preferable to treating it as an improvised game.
Buddhism
ActiveBenzaiten and the serpent-associated Ugafukujin meet in a setting with both Shinto and Buddhist elements. The belief that washed money increases is a devotional expectation, not a financial promise.
The shrine provides baskets and ritual items for coin washing. Ask at the office for current guidance; following the sequence locally is preferable to treating it as an improvised game.
Perspectives and open questions
A small everyday object becomes an offering of attention here. The ritual’s meaning can be described respectfully without promising an economic result.
Plan your visit
Access and arrival
The shrine is at 2-25-16 Sasuke, Kamakura. Check its current opening arrangements before travelling. Step-free access and mobile reception were not independently verified.
Respectful visit
Keep photography considerate, avoid handling another visitor’s offerings, and follow staff instructions for the spring and candles.
Location
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Pilgrim reflections
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Nearby sacred places
Explore other sacred places in the region. Proximity does not establish access or travel time; check each place’s guidance.
References
Sources consulted for this page. Source categories describe the publication, not a guarantee that every claim is verified. Traditional accounts and outside interpretations may differ.
- 01Zeniaraibenzaiten Shrine — Japan National Tourism OrganizationofficialYoritomo dream account, spring in cave, coin-washing ritual and shrine location.
- 02Zenarai Benzaiten Ugafukujinja Shrine — Kanagawa tourismofficialConfirms blended Shinto/Buddhist setting and coin washing; miraculous language retained only as belief.
- 03Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine — Wikipedia contributorsSource contextCoordinates and cave-spring shrine identity.
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