Itsukushima Shrine (Benzaiten)

Enshrines Benzaiten, the Buddhist goddess of wisdom, music, and flowing water who became syncretized with Shinto practice. Visitors come to pray for artistic talents, eloquence, and financial prosperity, as Benzaiten is believed to bestow blessings of creativity and material abundance. The shrine represents the historical blending of Buddhist and Shinto traditions, where devotees seek the goddess's protection over intellectual pursuits and the flow of good fortune.