Tanegaike Bentenmiya, a Quiet Wealth Power Spot near the Tottori Sand Dunes

Right behind the Tottori Sand Dunes lies a quiet body of water called Lake Tanegaike. On its shore stands Tanegaike Bentenmiya. Step away from the bustle of the dunes and the air seems to clear, opening into a calm world. The shrine enshrines Benzaiten, the deity of wealth and fortune, and locals have long known it affectionately as Otane Benten.

The lake is a dammed lake, formed when the Tottori Sand Dunes blocked the flow of water, and it has an average depth of about 17 metres. It lies within the Tottori Sand Dunes area of the San'in Kaigan Geopark, and around the lake you can observe valuable geology connected with the formation of the Sea of Japan. The steep slope of the dunes presses in just to the northwest, creating a distinctive scene where sand and water sit side by side. A legend tells of a woman named Otane who changed into a white serpent in this lake, and even now people quietly come to pray for wealth and good fortune.

Highlights

• The shrine hall standing quietly on the lakeshore
• A dammed lake with an average depth of about 17 metres, formed when the Tottori Sand Dunes blocked the water
• The legend of Otane, tied to the white serpent said to be Benzaiten's messenger
• A distinctive scene where the steep dune slope and the waterside sit side by side
• A calm waterside mood quite unlike the dunes nearby

The area where the Bentenmiya stands was once an island within the lake, but is said to have become joined to land as the sand of the dunes advanced. The story is still handed down of how Otane, who crossed to the island in the lake to gather persimmons for the household she served, in time became the guardian spirit of the water.

The Legend of Otane and the Origin of the Shrine

The story of Otane as told by Tottori City's tourism information goes like this. Otane was a servant in the house of a wealthy man. For fellow servants who were going hungry, she would change into a white serpent at Lake Tanegaike, cross to the small island in the lake, bring back sweet persimmons and feed them to her companions. One day, however, one of the servants saw her in serpent form. Now that her secret was known, Otane became the guardian spirit of Lake Tanegaike and never showed herself again. An old woman of the wealthy man's household, pitying her, is said to have built the shrine to enshrine her — the "Shrine of Otane" that still stands today.

The area known locally as Otane Benten is not made up of a single hall. It comprises several halls and shrines — the Benzaiten hall, the Hoanden, the old shrine, the Jizo hall and the Shrine of Otane — and walking between them, pressing your palms together at each in turn, you can sense the layers of prayer particular to this place, where faith in the white serpent, faith in Benzaiten and even faith in Jizo overlap.

The "Three Circuits" Way of Worship and the Customs of the Day of the Snake

A distinctive form of worship said to increase the blessings you receive has been handed down at the Shrine of Otane. First you pray at the front of the shrine, then, starting from there, walk clockwise around it. Each time you return to the front, you make the same wish, repeating this three times in all. The very act of repeating an unwavering wish three times becomes a moment to look again at what you truly want.

The date matters too. It is said that if you make a wish to the white serpent, the messenger of Benzaiten, that wish will be carried to Benzaiten, and the Day of the Snake (mi no hi), associated with serpents, is considered one of the auspicious days for matters of money and fortune. On the Day of the Snake there is a custom of offering sake and raw eggs, and the Tsuchinoto-mi day, which comes around once every 60 days, is regarded as an even more auspicious feast day of Benzaiten among all the Days of the Snake. The shrine office is also open only on these Day of the Snake and Tsuchinoto-mi dates, from 8:30 to 12:00. Visit within that window and you can draw the popular white-serpent fortune slips. If you are hoping for shrine charms or a goshuin seal stamp, be sure to choose your date before setting out.

Enjoying the Seasons

In spring the fresh greenery around the lake is soft and pleasant for a stroll. In summer the shade brings cool air and the water mirrors the light. In autumn the surrounding trees turn colour, and the persimmons tied to the legend ripen. In winter few people come, and you can face the lake in stillness. On the Day of the Snake, some visitors come especially to pray.

Early summer is particularly not to be missed. Boardwalk paths have been under development around Lake Tanegaike since 2021, and from around June to July water lilies bloom in profusion. The flowers close as midday approaches, so Tottori City's tourism information advises that "the best viewing is up to around 10 a.m." — which makes a morning walk the best plan. Following the boardwalk with waterfowl calling nearby makes for a soft, restorative stroll utterly unlike the harsh sunlight of the dunes.

You can also enjoy the lake from the water itself. Kayaking, canoeing and SUP are available on Lake Tanegaike, and in summer there is even SUP yoga among the lotus flowers blooming on the surface — an experience found only here. Paddle out and you will be struck all over again by the fact that such a quiet expanse of water lies immediately behind the dunes.

Access and Basic Information

• Located in Fukube, Tottori City, right beside the Tottori Sand Dunes
• Only a few minutes by car from the dunes
• Easy to combine with a visit to the sand dunes
• A walking path circles the lake for an unhurried visit

Practical Travel Notes

• Touring it together with the Tottori Sand Dunes is the standard, and many people stop by on the way back from the dunes
• The lake is deep and the waterside can be damp underfoot, so walk the path rather than forcing your way to the edge
• Benzaiten is regarded as a deity of wealth and fortune, and the shrine is known as a place to pray for money luck
• The quiet setting makes it a good choice when you want to settle your heart after the bustle of the dunes
• Timing a visit to a day of the snake lets you feel the atmosphere of Benten faith all the more

A Quick Tip

It is best visited together with the dunes. After spending lively time on the sand, putting your hands together quietly at this shrine helps settle the heart. The waterside can be damp underfoot, so wear comfortable shoes for walking.

📚 Sources

This article draws on sightseeing information published by Tottori City and its tourism association, along with local tradition about Tanegaike Bentengu and the worship of Benzaiten. On-site guidance along the pond and near the dunes was also consulted. Visits and the state of nearby paths may change, so please confirm official information before your visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: Allow about 30 minutes to an hour for the lakeside stroll and visit.
• Preparation: Comfortable shoes suit walking the pond edge and sandy ground.
• Getting around: Walk the shore of quiet Lake Tanega and pair it with the shrine enshrining Benzaiten.
• Combine with: Just behind the Tottori Sand Dunes, it pairs easily with dune sightseeing.
• Note: In a calm setting, it suits a quiet visit.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Location: Yuyama, Fukube-cho, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture 689-0105
• Enshrined deities: Benzaiten and Otane
• Blessings sought here: good fortune with money, wealth and prosperous business
• Access: About 20 minutes by bus from JR Tottori Station, right by the "Sakyu Higashiguchi" stop
• Parking: Available (free of charge), with space for 65 ordinary cars and 10 large buses
• Shrine office: Open 8:30-12:00 on "Mi no Hi" (Days of the Snake) and "Tsuchinoto-Mi no Hi" (it is normally closed)
• How to worship: After praying in front of the shrine, walk around it 3 times clockwise, making the same wish each time you come back to the front, and your wish is said to come true
• About the pond: It is a dammed lake formed when the Tottori Sand Dunes blocked the water, with an average depth of about 17 meters. It lies within the Tottori Sand Dunes area of the San'in Kaigan Geopark, where you can observe valuable geological features connected with the formation of the Sea of Japan

* Admission fees and the hours during which you may visit are not officially published.

(Sources: Tottori City tourism website [official] "Tanegaike Bentengu", Tottori Tabi [official] Tottori Prefecture sightseeing and travel information website "Tanegaike")