The year 2025 is the year of the Snake. In the directional chart, which is based on the Chinese theory of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, the twelve Chinese zodiac signs are arranged in a circle, and they are in an equilateral triangular relationship.
The fruits of your past hard work will be harvested and your money and financial resources will become visible and tangible.
The snake is a dependents of the god Benzaiten, and has long been a symbol of resurrection and rebirth, as well as of fortune and prosperity. In this issue, we will introduce power spots associated with the snake god Benzaiten, perfect for boosting your luck in 2025.

Kurumaori Shrine is visited by many entertainers and celebrities. The shrine is dedicated to Kiyohara Yorinari, a Confucian scholar of the Heian period (794-1185), and is known for its blessings for academic achievement, prosperous business, financial fortune, and good marriage.

It is said that if you pray for the "Prayer Stone Omamori" at the main shrine and carry it with you, your wish will be fulfilled. When your wish is fulfilled, write a thank-you note with an oil-based marker on a stone you picked up at a river, the sea, or a mountain near your home, and bring it to the shrine to receive a new prayer stone omamori.

The "Shrine of Purification," which purifies the body and mind with its strong purifying power for bad luck, bad karma, and the elimination of bad luck, is a popular photo spot that is said to increase luck when used as a standby screen. Be careful not to touch the sacred stones inside the torii gate, as you will not receive divine virtues.

The Benten Shrine on the premises enshrines the goddess Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto, who is believed to bestow gold, silver, treasures, happiness, and the improvement of one's skills. The way to pay homage to the goddess is unique: when water is drawn from a ladle and offered to her, the water is sent through a channel to the pond of Benzaiten. Let's visit this shrine as well and receive the divine power of money and beauty.

Hakuun Shrine in the Kyoto Imperial Garden is the shrine of the former Saionji family, and it was here that Sir Saionji Kimochi first opened his private school, Ritsumeikan, in 1869 (Meiji 2). The deity is Ichikishimahime no Mikoto, also known as Myouon Benzaiten, the god of music.
The golden koban amulet is awarded every year on the day of the snake (巳成金) in September, and it is expected to be even more beneficial in 2025, the year of the second snake.

［Itsukushima Shrine is located in the same Kyoto Gyoen as Hakuun Shrine and was formerly the shrine of the Kujo family. The shrine was originally built by Taira no Kiyomori, who enshrined the three Munakata goddesses of Itsukushima Shrine for his mother, Gion-no-Yogo, and also enshrines Gion-no-Yogo, Princess Ichikishima, Princess Tagorihime, and Princess Tagitsuhime.

The paintings of Benzaiten decorating the shrine in the Kyoto Gyoen, the red bridge over the pond, and the Karahafutorii, one of the three most unusual torii in Kyoto, are also noteworthy. Visit this power spot where ducks and carp lounge and the atmosphere is enchanting.

Mount Hiei, a sacred mountain that straddles Kyoto and Shiga and is registered as a World Heritage site, is a powerful power spot that plays an important role as the "mountain of the blue dragon" that guards the eastern part of Kyoto and seals off the demon gate of the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

With Daikokuten standing on a rice bale in the center, it has three faces: Bishamonten on the right and Benzaiten on the left, so that visitors can receive the blessings of these deities all at once. Also, since Toyotomi Hideyoshi prayed to this three-faced Daikokuten for his success in life and became Taikaku, the temple is revered as "Three-faced Daikokuten for success in life". From Daikoku-sama, one can expect blessings for matchmaking, good luck, and money and fortune.

It is said that in order to obtain the blessings of the three-faced Daikokuten, one should chant the mantras of the three deities in order.

Daikokuten Shingon] ...on makacharaya sowaka.
Benefit: Bountiful harvest, luck in life, marriage, fortune, good fortune, longevity, happiness, prosperous business, good luck, bad luck, and bad luck

Vaisravana Mantra]...on baisira mandaya sowaka.
Benefits/ Prayers for victory, study, wealth and fortune, martial arts, prosperity of company, good luck, removal of bad luck, fulfillment of one's desire, safety in the home, traffic safety, prosperity in business, and protection from spiritual possession.

On Sarasvati ai Sowaaka.
Benefit/Fortune, beauty, fulfillment of love, prosperity of offspring, child bearing, improvement of arts and crafts, safety at sea, prosperous business

In Manpai-do, which enshrines the gods and Buddha of temples and shrines scattered throughout the country, a thousand and eight beads, the number of vexations, are lined up around the thousand-armed Kannon, and it is said that if one turns each bead in a clockwise direction, one's vexations will disappear and one's mood will be refreshed and sublimated.

From 2016 to 2027, the National Treasure Nemoto-chudo Hall and the corridor, both Important Cultural Properties, are undergoing major renovation, and general visitors can climb up to the roof level from the Shugaku stage of Nemoto-chudo Hall to observe the construction. General visitors can climb to the roof level from the Shugaku stage of the Nemoto Chudo to see the construction work in progress.

What did you think? We hope you will visit the power spots in Kyoto and Shiga to wish you good luck and good fortune in 2025.

Fortune Teller / Dr. HietenProfile