The Zeniarai Benzaiten shrine is one of Kamakura's more unusual sites — reached through a short rock tunnel into a natural grotto, where a spring emerges from the cliff face and candles and incense give the interior a particular smoky atmosphere. The ritual here is to wash your money in the spring water in the belief it will multiply.
The cave shrine sits in a narrow valley between wooded hills, accessible only on foot via paths from the main Kamakura streets. Getting there requires about 20 minutes' walk from Kamakura Station (there are several routes; most people use the path through the Genji-yama park). The approach through the wooded hillside is half the appeal.
The shrine is busy on the days of the Snake in the Chinese calendar, when people come specifically for the coin-washing ritual. On other days it is quiet, fragrant with incense, and properly atmospheric.