Introduction
What is the lust for wealth but the desire for security? Common wisdom says money can’t buy happiness, but it can solve many of the problems that plague us. Money doesn’t give us the meaning of life, but in enabling us to take care of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it allows for the possibility of a life that’s more than mere survival.
Short of our governments deciding to institute universal basic income, we’re always going to need money to survive in this world, and sometimes, a little spiritual help can give us the boost we need to better our own circumstances.
Here are another half-dozen money shrines in Japan beloved for their reputed power in answering one’s financial prayers. Whether you’re wandering around downtown Kyoto or driving through the deep countryside of Yamaguchi, there’ll always be a deity ready to listen to your wishes for better money luck.
Zeniarai Benzaiten, Kanagawa
Here’s a legal way to launder your money: Bring it to Zeniarai Benzaiten and wash it in the shrine’s sacred spring.
Located in a cave on a steep hillside, Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Kamakura for its association with wealth and prosperity. It was founded in 1185 when Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun of the Kamakura period, received a message in a dream.
On a day in the Year of the Snake (1185), during the month of the snake (April in the old calendar) at the hour of the snake, Ugajin, the human-headed snake deity of wealth, visited him in a dream, and bade Yoritomo to worship him, the gods, and the Buddha(s) at the place where sacred water springs, in order to usher in an era of peace and prosperity. So it was that the shrine was built in a cave where the spring water bubbled forth.
The practice of money-washing came later in 1257, when Hōjō Tokiyori, the fifth Kamakura shogun, began immersing coins in the spring waters while praying for prosperity. He encouraged others to do the same on the day of the Snake (fifth day of the lunar month) to ensure peace and prosperity for one’s family and descendants.
While the shrine was initially established to worship Ugajin, many shrines — this one included — tend to conflate Ugajin with Benzaiten/Benten, the Buddhist manifestation of the Hindu water goddess Sarasvati. Both are associated with wealth, fortune, and snakes, which perhaps encouraged the conflation over the centuries.
After praying and lighting candles and incense sticks, visitors place bills, coins, or even credit cards in wicker baskets, then ladle water over them, ensuring that they are completely soaked. At most shrines with similar practices, the belief is that this money should be kept in one’s wallet (after being dried, of course) so that it will multiply and bring returns many times over. Ugafuku Shrine suggests that spending this cleansed money is the way to invite wealth to your life.
Iwakuni Shirohebi Shrine, Yamaguchi
As we’ve written about previously, snakes — especially white and gold ones — have a long association with wealth and divine blessings in Japanese mythology. White snakes in particular are believed to be the messengers of Benzaiten.
Whiteness in snakes is usually caused by albinism, which tends to occur as a one-off genetic anomaly within a single generation. However, the Iwakuni area has a comparatively high prevalence of Japanese rat snakes with albinism; here, the albinism appears to be hereditary.
An adult white snake measures around 1.8 metres in length, with a girth exceeding 15 centimetres. These sacred, ruby-eyed animals were bred as rat catchers, and thanks to their perceived auspicious qualities, were well cared for over the centuries. While their numbers had begun to fall during the 20th century due to a decrease of rats in the wild, six breeding facilities were built in 1965 to ensure the survival of the species.
At Iwakuni Shirohebi Shrine — a relatively new institution founded in 2012 — visitors can not only pray to Benzaiten for wealth, but also see and learn more about these gorgeous white snakes at the observation facility next door. The shrine itself is not especially prepossessing, but there are a number of charming snake-themed elements around the precincts, such as the snake carvings on the stone lanterns and snake-shaped water spouts at the purification basin.
Hogi-Hogi Shrine, Kumamoto
If the prospect of a life-changing jackpot wasn’t enough to encourage a punt at the lotto now and again, lottery winnings in Japan are tax-free, as the government automatically collects a portion of every wager.
Punters looking for a little extra spiritual help with winning tickets might consider praying to Kujineko Daimyōjin, or the ‘Great Shining Lottery Cat Deity’ at Hogi-Hogi Shrine in Kumamoto. This maneki-neko (beckoning cat) statue has its paws raised to mimic the hands of a clock reading 9 o’clock, pronounced ‘kuji’ in Japanese, which is also a homophone for ‘lottery.’ Since we have established that good fortune is all about puns, purchasing a little statue of Kujineko-sama at the shrine shop can only bring us good luck.
Hogi-Hogi Shrine is a relatively new shrine established in 2004 by a construction worker who purchased a winning lottery ticket after being visited by a large rock in his dreams. Word of this magical rock, which now had its own shrine courtesy of the former construction worker, spread far and wide, attracting would-be winners in droves. If only there were official statistics on the proportion of lottery winners among visitors to this shrine!
Mikane Shrine, Kyoto
Mikane Shrine may not have the magnificent moss gardens or gorgeous architecture of other temples and shrines in Kyoto, but its association with money certainly ensures that it’s never short of visitors all day long.
Mikane Shrine is dedicated to Kanayamahiko the deity of mines, blacksmithing, and metal craftsmanship; Amaterasu the sun goddess; and Tsukiyomi the moon deity. While the shrine was originally a place of worship on private property, it was popular enough with visitors that in 1883, local residents funded the construction of a new shrine that was open to the public.
During the Edo period, the surrounding area — specifically Ryogaemachi Street — was home to the gold and silver mints, where skilled metalworkers made coins for the shogunate. People in all manner of related professions flocked to the area and settled here: money changers and lenders, craftspeople who worked with gems and minerals, tea kettle makers, and more. With a historical backdrop like this, it is little surprise that a shrine like Mikane should continue to be identified with wealth.
Everything at the shrine evokes money and success, from the golden torii gate — covered with real gold leaf, courtesy of a Kyoto-based gold leaf company — to the resplendent 200 year-old gingko tree symbolising prosperity, growth, and longevity. Even the characters for the shrine, 御金, can be read as ‘okane’ or ‘money.’ Naturally, the shrine sells all manner of wealth-attracting paraphernalia, such as golden lucky amulets, ‘wallets of prosperity’ (fukusaifu), gingko leaf-shaped votive tablets, and gingko leaf-shaped charms made from silk crepe.
Kamochi Shrine, Tottori
The name of this shrine is written with the characters for ‘rich person’ (金持), so it’s no surprise that Kamochi Shrine attracts a steady stream of people wishing for wealth.
In its original form, 金 kane referred to metal or steel rather than gold. This area of Tottori had three iron mines that were good sources of Tamahagane (lit. ‘jewel steel’), a type of steel used in forging swords that was considered more valuable than gold, giving rise to the name of the village — Kanamochi — and subsequently the name of the shrine, shortened to Kamochi.
The legend associated with this shrine dates back to 810. The second son of a Shinto priest from Sonomyo Shrine in Izumo Province was travelling to Ise Grand Shrine in preparation for a ritual transfer of deities. However, on reaching Kanamochi, the bag he was carrying — filled with a precious stone — suddenly became unmanageably heavy, so he was forced to leave it behind before hurrying onwards to Ise.
Around the same time, the then-head of the Umebayashi family — who still run Kamochi Shrine today — had a dream in which he was instructed to build a shrine. So it was that this precious stone was enshrined as the tutelary deity of Kamochi.
Other deities enshrined here are Amenotokotachi, a deity of whom little is known; Yatsukamizuomitsuno, a deity said to have expanded Shimane Peninsula by ‘pulling’ the land; and Omizunu, the great-great-grandson of the storm god Susanoo. According to the shrine, they are associated with national governance, nation-building, and general good fortune.
Visitors to Kamochi Shrine have reported success in their business ventures or winning the lottery. Their golden lucky amulets are quite eye-catching, but the real stars of their lineup are the super-shiny goshuin books for collecting calligraphed stamps. Besides smartphone cases, wallets, teacups, votive tablets, coffee, and bracelets, one can also purchase a yellow cotton handkerchief, which the shrine suggests using to wrap lottery tickets or place somewhere ‘high above your head’ at home to attract good fortune. Your mileage may vary.
Arayayama Shrine, Yamanashi
Arayayama Shrine is one of Japan’s ‘Three Major Money Shrines’ along with Kinkengū in Ishikawa and Awa Shrine in Chiba. This shrine has stood on the foothills of Mount Fuji since 1534, but was catapulted to national fame in 2004 after featuring in management consultant and entrepreneur Yukio Funai’s book, Iyashirochi: The Place Where All Things Are Revived.
The word ‘iyashirochi’ translates to ‘sacred land.’ Originally founded to venerate Ōyamatsumi, the deity of mountains and industry, Arayayama Shrine made Funai’s list thanks to its location on a ley line, which many believe to be a path of positive, powerful spiritual energy; in feng shui, the same concept is known as a ‘dragon vein.’ Shrines along such a line are believed to be particularly effective for attracting good fortune and wealth. Little surprise, then, that Arayayama is a favourite with investors, entrepreneurs, and business owners.
The main hall houses the Gojinseki, a kind of fortune-telling stone that’s like a simpler version of a Magic 8 Ball. Like the Magic 8 Ball, the stone only entertains yes-no questions. The visitor should ask a question of the deity, then lift the stone three times. If it feels heaviest when lifting the stone on the second try, the answer to the question is affirmative. In all other cases, the answer is ‘no.’ Neutral answers don’t fly here.
For even more wealth-attracting energy, pay a visit to the inner shrine at Mount Fuji’s second station, Heda no tsuji. It’s only accessible by car and the road is closed in winter, so one has to be pretty determined to make the trek — it’s said that only those who are destined to get there will do so. (Seems self-fulfilling, if you ask me.) Devotees believe that the combined powers of Ōyamatsumi, as well as Amaterasu, the sun goddess, and Konohanasakuya, the goddess of Mount Fuji and volcanoes, are especially effective for increasing one’s wealth or winning lotteries.
Written by Florentyna Leow