According to legend, when Prince Yamato Takeru died and transformed into a white swan, a forest of a thousand tree species grew overnight at the spot where he landed—giving birth to this shrine.

As early as 823 AD, the Imperial Court specifically requested Ōtori Taisha to pray for rain, and the shrine received imperial messengers for its annual harvest festival—a mark of exceptional importance.

The shrine features the rare Ōtori-zukuri architectural style, considered the second-oldest form of Shinto architecture in Japan after Izumo Taisha's design.

The shrine is famous for selling Japan's first 'foresight charm' (sakisaki omamori), a unique talisman that has become hugely popular among visitors seeking divine guidance.