According to legend, a golden eagle kidnapped 2-year-old Roben from Kanagawa and carried him across Japan to Nara. Years later, his parents found him at Todai-ji temple, and he returned to found this shrine.

The view from the lower shrine earned a two-star rating in the Michelin Guide. At 696 meters elevation, visitors can see across the city all the way to the bay while drinking sacred spring water from a dragon's head.

The shrine's name 'Afuri' comes from the Japanese word for rainfall. For over 2,000 years, farmers have climbed this mountain to pray to the rain and thunder deities for good harvests.

Oyama Afuri Shrine was traditionally founded in the 7th century by Priest Roben.