Once know as Egara-san Tenmangu Shrine, this place is counted as one of the Japanese three great Tenjin Shrine, along with Fukuoka's Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and Kyoto's Kitano TEnmangu Shrine. It is said that around the middle of the Heian Period, a depiction of Tenjin fell to earth during a thunderstorm. This was revered by the local villagers and from that time that the shrine was built and worship began.
When Minamoto no Yoritomo established the Kamakura Government, this shrine was worshiped as the protector of the so-called Kimon, unlucky northeasterly directions.

The grounds of the shrine are a Registered National Historical Site, and the main shrine has been designated as a National Important Cultural Property.