The shrine's founding legend traces back to the mythical hero Yamato Takeru, making it one of Tokyo's oldest sacred sites despite its current Edo-era buildings.

The shrine's current buildings were constructed by the 5th Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi during the Edo period and are now designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

The shrine's famous thousand vermillion torii gates form a tunnel along a hillside path leading to Otome Inari, creating one of Tokyo's most photogenic shrine features.

During the annual Azalea Festival, over 3,000 azalea bushes of various species bloom across the shrine's sloped grounds, with flowers timed to bloom throughout April in waves of color.