The shrine's origins are said to date back to the reign of the 11th emperor of Japan, when a nobleman named Nomi-no-Sukune beat the man considered to be the father of sumo wrestling. Receiving this land as a reward, he enshrined Susanoo, the god of Japanese legend, here. Sugawara-no-Michizane, a descendent of Nomi-no-Sukune, is also enshrined here, but the shrine was destroyed by fire during the chaos of the warring states period. In later years, Toyotomi Hideyoshi designated Katano the guardian shrine of Osaka Castle's northeastern gate (a traditionally unlucky direction), and the shrine became known as a shrine to the guardian deity of northeastern directional protections and house-building directional protections. In 1602, Hideyoshi's son renovated the main shrine building and other sections, reconstructing the complex. The main shrine, built in the Momoyama architectural style, is a national important cultural property. Red and white plum blossoms planted on the grounds, associated with Michizane, make for a colorful sight in the early spring.