The origins of the shrine are uncertain. The shrine claims to have been founded in 806 AD by
Emperor Heizei as a branch of the famous
Kumano Sanzan shrines in
Kii Province, and the shrine was associated with the
provincial temple of
Dewa Province. However, an alternative history states that the shrine was built in the late
Heian period by
Taira no Koremori by order of
Emperor Go-Shirakawa. In either case, the shrine was patronized by the successive feudal lords of the region, including the
Date clan,
Mogami clan and
Uesugi clan. After the
Meiji restoration and the creation of
State Shinto, the
shrine was ranked as a Prefectural Shrine. Two main features of the shrine are a giant tree which locals believe to be several hundred years old, and a traditional bell. The bell is unique because during World War II, most large iron bells in Japan were melted down for their material. The bell at the shrine was saved by order of the Emperor, and is thus one of the few original preserved bells in Japan. The Kumano-Taisha festival is held at the shrine each year on July 25. == References ==