The capital of Japan was located right here for only five years (667-672 AD) before being destroyed during the Jinshin War, when Emperor Tenji's son killed himself and the palace burned down.

Built in 1940 to celebrate the mythical 2,600th anniversary of Japan's founding, the shrine was constructed during the height of Japanese militarism, alongside other nationalist monuments like Miyazaki's Hakko Ichiu pillar.