Although the date of its establishment is unknown, it is said that Sakurai Shrine was founded when a local clan dedicated the shrine to their ancestors.In 597, Hachiman (the god of war) was enshrined along with other gods currently enshrined, appeasing and protecting the land and bringing great prosperity.In 1577, a wartime attack by Oda Nobunaga burned the shrine to the ground with the exception of the worship hall and inner sanctuary. The worship hall, now a national treasure, possesses the characteristic architectural details of a structure built in the early Kamakura period. In the shrine's autumn festival, held annually on the nearest Sunday to October 5th, offerings are made of dancing called Niwadani no Ko-odori. The festival is also designated a national intangible cultural property.