Featured Guides / 6 Shrines Famous for Money Luck
6 Shrines Famous for Money Luck
From Kamochi Jinja, whose auspicious name has made it a sensation, to Imamiya Ebisu Jinja, famed for business prosperity, we introduce six shrines known for their blessings of financial luck and business success.
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Kamochi Jinja in Tottori Prefecture is known as one of Japan's foremost shrines for financial luck, simply because its place name reads, in kanji, as "Kamochi" (金持) — the word for a wealthy person. Many visitors come here specifically to pray for lottery luck, and its goshuin and financial-luck charms are especially popular. The shrine buildings themselves are small and unassuming, but it's the name itself that is this shrine's greatest draw.
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Imamiya Ebisu Jinja in Osaka is immensely popular across the Kansai region as the home of "Ebessan," the god of business prosperity — Kotoshironushi no Mikoto. Each January, the "Toka Ebisu" festival draws merchants from across Japan, who arrive to the traditional chant "Shobai hanjo de sasa motte koi!" ("Business prosperity — bring on the lucky bamboo!").
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Yutoku Inari Jinja in Saga Prefecture is counted, alongside Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kasama Inari Jinja, as one of Japan's "Three Great Inari Shrines." Inari deities are widely worshipped not only for bountiful harvests but for business prosperity as well, and the shrine's vividly lacquered, multicolored main hall is a spectacular sight in its own right.
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Enoshima Jinja in Kanagawa Prefecture is known for enshrining Benzaiten, goddess of wealth and the arts, and is counted among Japan's "Three Great Benzaiten Shrines." It's also famous for the "coin-washing" custom near Okutsunomiya, the shrine furthest along the island. Another appeal is how easily a visit pairs with a stroll around Enoshima itself, one of the scenic highlights of the Shonan coast.
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Kanazawa Jinja in Ishikawa Prefecture carries a financial-luck legend said to be the very origin of the city name "Kanazawa" ("gold marsh") itself — the tale of a poor young man who washed mountain yams in the shrine's sacred spring, only to find gold dust pouring out with them. The shrine also enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, the god of scholarship, making it a beloved destination for visitors hoping to pray for both financial luck and academic success together.
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Koami Jinja in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, is known as "Tokyo's money-washing Benzaiten," thanks to the "money-washing well" beneath its statue of Benzaiten. Tradition holds that money washed here and kept unspent for a year becomes tanesen — "seed money" believed to multiply and attract further wealth. It's also one of the shrines on the popular Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage.
Tips for Visiting Money-Luck Shrines
Shrines known for financial-luck blessings come from all kinds of backgrounds: some enshrine Inari deities, others worship a wealth deity like Benzaiten, and some — like Kamochi Jinja on this list — owe their reputation simply to an auspicious place name or shrine name.
Many visitors time their trip to coincide with buying a new wallet or amulet. It’s also popular to visit before purchasing a lottery ticket, or to receive a goshuin specifically blessed for a winning draw — styles of worship found at money-luck shrines all across Japan.
Things to Keep in Mind When You Visit
- Check the shrine office’s hours: Financial-luck charms and goshuin are only available while the shrine office is open. Be sure to check the hours in advance.
- Plan a realistic itinerary: Some shrines, like Kamochi Jinja, can be a bit inconvenient to reach by public transportation. Check nearby accommodation and transit options ahead of time.
- Pair your visit with other sights: Shrines like Enoshima Jinja and Imamiya Ebisu Jinja are easy to combine with a visit to the surrounding sightseeing area. Consider working one into your itinerary without too much extra effort.
You can find full details on each shrine’s history, access, and goshuin information on its individual page.