Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine
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Attractions > Other Cities and Areas > Shrines Temples > Kamakura
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Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine in Kamakura Japan
About
Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine (usually just referred to as Zeniarai Benzaiten) is a Shinto Shrine in Kamakura Japan. Its not a very big shrine but is is very popular! The 2nd most popular place for Japanese tourists to visit in Kamakura. So... its small... "why is it so popular" you ask? Because... the waters of a spring in its cave are said to be able to multiply the money washed in it! Zeniarai Benzaiten is a very interesting shrine because it is one of the few shrines in Japan that distinctly shown the "fusion" of Shinto and Buddhism. The object of worship at Zeniarai Benzaiten is a "fused" god of a Shinto spirit called Ugafukujin with the Buddhist goddess of Indian origin Sarasvati, known in Japanese as Benzaiten.
Minamoto Yoritomo, first of the Kamakura shoguns, founded the temple around 1185. It is said that on the day of the Snake in the month of the Snake he dreamed of kami Ugafukujin. In the dream it is said the the kami (god) told him that "In a valley to the northwest, there is a miraculous spring that gushes out of the rocks. Go there and worship Shinto Kami and Buddhist Hotoke, and peace will come to the country. So, reportedly Yoritomo found the spring and built a shrine for Ugafukujin, a kami whose symbol is a snake with a human head.
Access
Closest Train Station: Kamakura
2 Chome-25-16 Sasuke
Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0017 Japan
Tel: 467-25-1081
Hotels & Lodging
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View a full list of Hotels and Lodging in or nearby Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine.
Hours & Fees
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: The general grounds of Shrines and Temples are free but may charge a small fee (a couple/few hundred yen) for special gardens, exhibitions, artifact viewing, etc.
Information presented is based on the time it was created. There may be changes since publication. Please confirm information by visiting the Official Website before visiting.
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