Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine, Shinto shrine in Sasuke, Japan
Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku is a shrine in the Sasuke neighborhood of Kamakura, hidden behind a stone wall in a quiet side valley. Access is through a narrow tunnel that opens into a courtyard enclosed by rocks, with several small buildings and a cave containing spring water.
Minamoto no Yoritomo founded the shrine in the late twelfth century after a dream in which a deity showed him a site near a sacred spring. Over time, the complex became a pilgrimage destination for people seeking financial blessings.
Worshippers dip coins and banknotes into the spring water, dry them in the air, and keep them in their wallets afterwards. This ritual connects the hope for material well-being with the veneration of Benzaiten, a deity associated with fortune and prosperity in Japanese belief.
Visitors reach the shrine on foot via a short path from the main road, and sturdy shoes can be helpful in wet weather. The shrine courtyard is freely accessible during daylight hours, and small baskets and ladles are provided at the spring basin.
The cave houses several smaller shrines beside the main basin, where candles flicker and incense burns. On some days, freshly washed banknotes hang to dry on the rocks around the spring.
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