⛩️ Money-Washing Benzaiten Uga Fuku Shrine

According to legend, in the first year of the Bunji era during the Kamakura period (1185), Minamoto no Yoritomo had a dream before being appointed as the shogun. In his dream, the water deity Uga Fuku-shin, who had a human head and a serpent body, told him, "As long as you offer the spring water that flows from the northwest, peace will prevail in the land." Thus, Minamoto no Yoritomo established this shrine in that location. Later, Hojo Tokiyori used this spring water to wash coins, praying for the prosperity of his family, which led to the folk belief in money washing. Uga Fuku Shrine is located in the mountainous area northwest of central Kamakura. Walking up the slope, one encounters a torii gate at the entrance of a cave and an artificially dug tunnel, which leads to the shrine. After passing through the tunnel, one sees the torii gates standing side by side, with the shrine office located behind them. At the shrine office, visitors can borrow bamboo sieves for washing money. After purchasing candles that symbolize blooming light in the dark night and incense (100 yen) to ward off evil spirits, one can proceed to the main hall nearby to pay respects. The inner sanctuary is located within the cave ahead. Inside the cave's inner sanctuary flows the "money washing water," one of the five famous waters of Kamakura. Coins are placed in the bamboo sieve, and water is scooped from the spring using a ladle and poured over the coins. It is said that the cleaned coins should not be kept; instead, they should be dried and spent after placing them in a wallet.

The process of washing money involves visiting the 奥宮 (Okunoin), placing the money on a borrowed bamboo sieve, and using a ladle to pour about three scoops of spring water over the money. During the actual operation, there is no need to rub or wash it. You can use either coins or banknotes for washing, but items like handkerchiefs for wiping banknotes need to be prepared in advance. There is also a method of worship that involves offering raw eggs, as the messenger of 弁財天 (Benzaiten) is a snake that enjoys eating eggs. It is said that Minamoto no Yoritomo received divine instructions on the day of the snake in the month of the snake in the year of the snake. Raw eggs can be purchased at the shop within the shrine, but they are not sold at the shrine office.