Year of the Snake: Five Shrines to Visit in 2025

Ugajin figure fronting Bentendō shrine in Shinobazu, Ueno, Tokyo. (© Pixta)

Many shrines revering serpents, which are connected to water deity worship, have basins where money can be ritually cleansed. (Courtesy Hebikubo Shrine)

Ancient chronicles often mentioned the beautiful conical shape of Mount Miwa. (Courtesy Ōmiwa Shrine)

The shrine’s worship hall, rebuilt in the seventeenth century, is designated an important cultural property. The entire mountain is venerated as the deity, so there is no main shrine. (Courtesy Ōmiwa Shrine)

The white snake appearing at the Minokamisugi cedar is nicknamed Mi-san. (Courtesy Ōmiwa Shrine)

A stream flows down from the mountain behind the shrine. (© Shibuya Nobuhiro)

Top: Jamon stone charms reputed to bring luck with money. Bottom left: Kanahebisama votive offerings. Bottom right: A white snake with an omikuji fortune-telling slip in its mouth. (© Shibuya Nobuhiro)

Visitors can pause for a break at the Sando Terrace café. (© Shibuya Nobuhiro)

A sacred spring washing away sins and impurities wells up in the shrine precincts. (© Shibuya Nobuhiro)

One of the serpent figures in front of the worship hall. (© Shibuya Nobuhiro)

Left: The Zeniarai no Taki money-washing waterfall. (© Pixta) Right: The shrine’s ink stamp depicting a white snake. (© Shibuya Nobuhiro)

Janome “snake-eye” swirling motifs and snake figures abound throughout the shrine precincts. (© Pixta)

Serpent figures abound. This one is at the chōzuya purification basin. (© Pixta)

Live white snakes can be viewed at the Iwakuni Shirohebi Museum. (© Pixta)

After paying their respects at the prayer hall, visitors can see the Hakuja Benzaiten Shrine deep inside the shrine precincts. (Courtesy Hebikubo Shrine)

Top: The Hebikubo Seisui money-washing basin, where people hope to have luck with money. Bottom: The white snake monument, believed to impart life force when stroked. (Courtesy Hebikubo Shrine)

Even the shopping street leading to the shrine follows the serpent theme with serpent-shaped streetlights. A white snake is also a local mascot character. (© Shibuya Nobuhiro)