Zeniarai Benten Shrine

**Money-washing ritual:** Upon entering the cave shrine, purchase candles (¥100 donation, optional but customary). Light candle and offer at altar. Take a bamboo basket from the provided stack. Place coins or bills in basket (¥500–1,000 is typical; some wash ¥10,000 bills). Dip basket into spring water flowing through stone channels, ensuring money gets wet. Wave basket to shake off excess water. Air-dry money (don't wipe with cloth — water should naturally evaporate or be shaken off). Return money to wallet. Belief: the washed money will multiply and bring financial fortune. Spend the washed money rather than saving it to activate the multiplier effect (according to folk belief). **Cave atmosphere:** The main shrine sits inside a natural cave (torii gate marks tunnel entrance). The cave interior is illuminated by candles, natural light filtering through openings, and filtered daylight. Water drips from cave ceiling and flows through channels carved in the rock floor — the sound creates meditative ambiance. The cave walls are blackened by centuries of incense smoke. Thousands of red and white banners (donated by visitors whose wishes came true) hang from cave ceiling and shrine buildings. The combination of elements creates otherworldly atmosphere — more mystical than typical manicured shrine grounds. **Combined Sasuke Inari walk:** After Zeniarai Benten, walk 5 minutes to Sasuke Inari Shrine (佐助稲荷神社) — a small shrine accessed via steep staircase lined with hundreds of red torii gates creating tunnel effect (similar to Fushimi Inari in Kyoto but much smaller scale). The torii tunnel is photogenic and atmospheric. The combined Zeniarai + Sasuke Inari walk takes 90 minutes total. Route: Kamakura Station → Zeniarai Benten (20-min walk) → wash money + worship (30 min) → walk to Sasuke Inari (5 min) → torii tunnel + shrine (20 min) → return to station or continue to Daibutsu/Hasedera (15-min walk).