Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Jinja

In 1185, Minamoto no Yoritomo, prior to the appointment to become Shogun, had a dream where a god of water, Ugafuku, with a human head and a snake body told him to enshrine a spring in the land in the northwest and there would be peace, and that was the beginning of this shrine. Later, Hojo Tokiyori rinsed coins in this spring and prayed for his family’s prosperity which became the origin of Zeniarai (rinsing coins) folk religion.

The shrine is located in the mountain northwest of the heart of Kamakura. Walk up a slope, and you will see a handmade tunnel in the cliff where the shrine gate stands. Beyond this entrance, there is a row of gates, then, the shrine office, where you check out a strainer to rinse coins with. You can buy a candle that is meant to pierce the darkness with light, and an incense that is supposed to chase away evil spirits (100 yen) and dedicate them in the main hall right next to the office. The rear hall is in a cave ahead.

In the rear hall inside the cave, you will find one of Kamakura’s five best springs, Zeniarai Water. Put money in the strainer and pour this water with a scooper and rinse them. Then, you can wipe the money and put it back in your wallet. It is said that using the money, instead of keeping it, will bring good luck.