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Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine, Kamakura

Stone torii and stone marker at the tunnel cut through the rock that leads into Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine in Kamakura
Photo: Tarourashima, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Hours
Roughly 8:00–16:30, last entry 16:00
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Highlight
Washing money in a cave spring
Way in
Through a tunnel in the rock
Nearby
Sasuke Inari — 10 minutes; trail to the Great Buddha
Getting there
25–30 minutes uphill from Kamakura Station
Coordinates
35.32580, 139.54200YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

'Coin washing'the meaning of the name Zeniarai
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Doublesmoney washed in the spring, by legend
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Yoritomothe first shogun ordered the shrine built, by tradition
Sourcejapan-guide.com
The Snakehis dream came on the day, month and year of the Snake
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Benzaitengoddess of fortune and wealth, linked to snakes
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Freeentry to the shrine
Sourcejapan-guide.com
25–30 minuteson foot from Kamakura Station
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Tunnelthrough the rock leads into the shrine
Sourcetravel guides

What is Zeniarai Benzaiten?

Zeniarai Benzaiten, 'Benzaiten where money is washed', is a shrine in a narrow hollow among Kamakura's western hills. You enter through a tunnel cut in the rock, and inside is a courtyard with torii gates, small halls and a cave with a spring.

By tradition, the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo ordered the shrine built after a god appeared in his dream and advised him to build it for peace in the land. The dream fell on the day, month and year of the Snake, so the shrine was also dedicated to Benzaiten, the goddess of fortune and wealth associated with snakes.

Entry and hours

According to guides, entry to the shrine is free, and it opens roughly 8:00 to 16:30, with last entry at 16:00. Incense and candles for the ritual are sold at the entrance for a small fee.

The shrine is a rare surviving example of the fusion of Shinto and Buddhism: Benzaiten came to Japan through Buddhism, but here she's worshipped in a Shinto shrine with torii gates.

What to see

  • The rock tunnel — the way into the hollow.
  • The cave with its spring — where money is washed.
  • Torii gates in the courtyard.
  • The shrine's small halls.
  • The Daibutsu trail — to the Great Buddha.
  • Sasuke Inari — 10 minutes away.

How to get to Zeniarai Benzaiten

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on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

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On foot

More tips

  1. From Kamakura Station — west exit, about 25–30 minutes on foot north-west, the last part uphill.
  2. Taxi — about 10 minutes from the station to the tunnel.
  3. From Sasuke Inari — about 10 minutes on foot.
  4. From the Great Buddha — about 30 minutes along the Daibutsu trail over the hills.
  5. From Kita-Kamakura — along the Daibutsu trail, about an hour.

Zeniarai Benzaiten or Sasuke Inari

Zeniarai Benzaitenyou are hereWashing money in a caveFreeMany at weekends10 minutes apart
Sasuke InariRed torii and white foxesFreeFewer10 minutes apart

How long do you need?

30 minutes is enough for the shrine itself: walk through the tunnel, set a candle and wash your money. With the walk from the station, about an hour. It's almost always combined with neighbouring Sasuke Inari shrine and the Daibutsu trail, which leads over the hills to the Great Buddha.

The climb to the shrine is steep, especially the last few hundred metres — you'll want comfortable shoes. Weekday mornings are quiet; at weekends a queue with baskets forms at the cave.

If you carry on along the Daibutsu trail, allow 30–40 minutes through woods with roots and steps. It's slippery after rain, so in wet weather it's better to return to the station and take the Enoden to the Great Buddha.

Is Zeniarai Benzaiten worth visiting?

Yes: the rock tunnel and the money-washing ritual make it one of Kamakura's most unusual places, and it's free.

The YesGo take: the uphill walk is tiring, and at weekends the cramped hollow is busy. If you're short on time, choose the Great Buddha and the Hase temples. But if you love unusual places and walks, link the shrine with Sasuke Inari and the Daibutsu trail — it makes a great afternoon.

Before you go: checklist

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Kamakura temples: compare and choose

Temples and shrines in Kamakura rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)4640 min¥30020 min walk
Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrineyou are here4430 minFree—
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine441 hFree23 min walk
Sasuke Inari Shrine4330 minFree6 min walk
Hōkoku-ji Temple (Bamboo Temple)3845 min≈ ¥40042 min walk
Kenchō-ji Temple381 h≈ ¥50024 min walk
Engaku-ji Temple371 h¥50025 min walk
Hase-dera Temple351 h 15 min¥40029 min walk
Enoshima Island343 hfree; tower and caves ≈ ¥5006.3 km

Kamakura's hills in half a day

Sasuke Inari shrine with its white foxes in the morning, then Zeniarai Benzaiten, and along the trail to the Great Buddha. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Sasuke Inari Shrine30 min · free
  2. 6 min walk from the previous stopZeniarai Benzaiten Shrineyou are here30 min · free
  3. 20 min walk from the previous stopGreat Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)40 min · ¥300

3 places · about 2 h 6 min with walks · 26 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Sasuke Inari Shrine

Kamakura, Japan

30 min · free · 6 min walk

Komachi-dori Street

Kamakura, Japan

45 min · free · 18 min walk

How to do it right

  • Take a basket at the entrance.
  • Spend the washed money on something good.
  • The final climb is steep.
  • Last entry 16:00.
  • Nearby: Sasuke Inari.

Questions

How much is entry to Zeniarai Benzaiten?

Entry is free; incense and candles cost a little.

What are the opening hours?

Roughly 8:00–16:30, last entry 16:00.

Why do people wash money?

Legend says money washed in the spring doubles.

How do I wash money?

Put it in a basket and pour spring water over it with a ladle.

How do I get there?

25–30 minutes uphill on foot from Kamakura Station.

How long do you need?

About 30 minutes; an hour with the walk.

What's nearby?

Sasuke Inari and the Daibutsu trail to the Great Buddha.

Who built the shrine?

By tradition, the shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • japan-guide.com — legend, Benzaiten, hours, free entry, access, trail (via curl 09.11.2026; unofficial)
  • Kotoku-in official site (kotoku-in.jp) — route from the Great Buddha, about 30 minutes
  • Travel guides — the money-washing ritual, tunnel (unofficial)
  • Wikidata Q642681 — coordinates
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 09.11.2026 ·
How we checkedThe legend, hours, entry and access are from japan-guide.com; hours are marked 'being checked'. The ritual and tunnel are from guides. Distance from the Great Buddha is from the Kotoku-in site. Time needed is the YesGo estimate.

Top YesGo picks: Kamakura

Kenchō-ji Temple

Kamakura, Japan

1 h · ≈ ¥500

Engaku-ji Temple

Kamakura, Japan

1 h · ¥500

Hase-dera Temple

Kamakura, Japan

1 h 15 min · ¥400

Enoshima Island

Kamakura, Japan

3 h · free; tower and caves ≈ ¥500

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