Kamakura Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine
Lena EnishiForget the lottery—if you’re down to your last measly yen and you’re not so hot at predicting the stock market, bring a couple bills over to Kamakura's Zeniarai Benten.
Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine, popularly known simply as Zeniarai Benten, is a Shinto shrine in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. In spite of its small size, it is the second most popular spot in Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture after Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū. [Wikipedia]
Forget the lottery—if you’re down to your last measly yen and you’re not so hot at predicting the stock market, bring a couple bills over to Kamakura's Zeniarai Benten.
This is one of the famous Shinto shrines and location of a miraculous spring in Kamakura. Washing money in the spring is supposed to bless your money and multiply it.
Come and visit this interesting shrine in Kamakura where you can double your money by washing it in holy water!
Venez visiter cet intéressant sanctuaire à Kamakura où vous pouvez faire doubler votre argent en le lavant dans de l'eau sacrée!
ศาลเจ้า Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Jinja เป็นศาลเจ้าชินโตในเมืองคามาคุระ และเป็นที่ตั้งของน้ำพุธรรมชาติอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ของเทพเจ้าอุงะฟุกุจิน
Đến thăm ngôi đền thú vị này ở Kamakura, nơi bạn có thể nhận lại gấp đôi số tiền sau khi rửa nó trong dòng nước tự nhiên!
Đây là một trong những ngôi đền Shinto nổi tiếng vàcó một suối nước nóng kỳ diệu ở Kamakura. Rửa tiền trong suối nước nóng là để ban phước cho tiền của bạn và làm cho nó nhân lên nhiều lần.
鎌倉にある銭洗弁財天宇賀福神社は、金運のご利益がある神社として有名です。源頼朝公が1185年に見た霊夢に従って、佐助ヶ谷の岩壁に湧き出ている霊水を見つけ、そこに社を建てて宇賀神を祀ったことが宇賀福神社の始まりです。その後1257年に北条時頼がこの霊水で銭を洗い一族繁栄を祈ったことが、銭洗いの始まりと伝えられています。
“Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine” is a shrine in Kamakura famous for granting wealth. Minamotono Yoritomo, first shogun of the Kamakura period, founded the shrine after discovering spring water gushing from a rock following a dream in the year 1185.
Taisen-kaku is a 100-year-old inn just seconds away from Hase Kanon Temple. The service they provide will leave you with a memorable experience of your time in Kamakura.
Kishi-ke is traditional, yet modern, Japanese-style inn that aims to connect guests with the present and help them achieve inner harmony through its peaceful design and cultural experiences.
Fujisawa is located close to such popular tourist destinations as Enoshima and makura. A traveler can get everything necessary for a comfortable rest in a room.
Maison Cacao is much more than your average chocolate shop. They have blended Colombian cacao and Japanese ingenuity to create a silky, melt-in-your-mouth delicious chocolate treats. The Arama-nama chocolate is especially indulgent.
Discover the taste that Kamakura locals are in love with. New German's fluffy custard-filled sponge cakes are a dessert that is sure to impress. The caramel custard flavor is especially popular with visitors.
Taste Aratama's famous fried pork cutlet and fall in love with the fresh flavors. Tonkatsu isn't all that's on the menu. Be sure to try Aratama's other dishes like mozzarella menchi katsu and cream croquette.
Sasuke Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kamakura and the site of the Hidden Village of Kamakura. It is located very near the Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine. [Wikipedia]
Tokeiji, a Rinzai-sect temple of Zen Buddhism, is a branch temple of nearby Engakuji, which is a short 5-minute walk away. This important temple/nunnery was founded in 1285 by the wife of regent Hojo Tokimune as a sanctuary for women who were abused by their husbands. In a time when women could not legally divorce, Tokeiji offered them a three-year training program in return for an official divorce. The temple’s right to issue divorces was revoked in the early 1870s and its time as a nunnery ended in 1902. Up until 1902, men were strictly forbidden from entering the premises. Today, all visitors are welcome, and the temple is known for its beautiful flower gardens from summertime hydrangeas to wintertime plum blossoms. The relatively small complex features multiple structures, including an entrance gate, a bell tower, tea houses, a treasure house, and a main hall. The treasure house holds Buddhist artifacts, as well as lacquer work from past nuns; and the main hall enshrines a seated statue of Shaka Nyorai, the principal image of the temple. Join the temple for early morning zazen meditation, which is held every Sunday.
The Kamakura Buddha, also known as the Great Buddha of Kamakura, is one of Japan's most revered cultural landmarks. Located at Kotoku-in, a Buddhist temple located in the coastal city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, this majestic bronze statue represents Amida Buddha (Amitabha), the celestial Buddha. Standing approximately 13.35 meters (43.8 feet) tall and weighing around 93 tons, the Kamakura Buddha is the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan, surpassed only by the Great Buddha of Nara. The statue dates back to around 1252 CE during the Kamakura period, a time marked by the rise of the samurai class and the spread of Zen Buddhism. Originally, the statue was housed inside a massive wooden hall. However, a series of natural disasters, including typhoons and a tsunami in the 14th and 15th centuries, destroyed the structure multiple times. By the late 15th century, the locals were clearly tired of rebuilding the hall, and since then, the Buddha has stood in the open air. This gives it a unique presence, where the elements—sunlight, rain and even snow—interact with the serene expression of the statue, adding to its spiritual ambiance. The statue’s craftsmanship is particularly notable. Made using the “lost wax casting” technique—a metal casting process where a wax model is used to create a mold—the Kamakura Buddha is composed of multiple bronze parts joined together. Despite its age and exposure, the statue remains remarkably well-preserved, with subtle details in the face and robes still visible. Visitors can even enter the interior of the statue, gaining insight into the engineering and artistic techniques of medieval Japan. Kotoku-in itself is a temple of the Jodo-shu (Pure Land) sect of Buddhism. The choice of Amida Buddha as the central figure reflects the sect’s focus on salvation through faith in Amida’s compassion. Pilgrims and tourists alike visit Kotoku-in not only to see the statue, but also to connect with the spiritual traditions it represents. Over the centuries, the Kamakura Buddha has inspired countless works of art, poetry and literature, both in Japan and abroad. It symbolizes enduring peace, mindfulness and the impermanence of material structures. Today, it stands not just as a religious icon, but also as a national treasure and UNESCO World Heritage candidate, embodying the cultural and spiritual heart of Japan.