Over 1400 years of history

These three kami were originally enshrined at Munakata Taisha in Kyushu, on the sea route between Japan and the continent, and their divided spirits were brought here from that jinja in the late sixth century. In the early eighth century, the same kami were brought again from Itsukushima Jinja in Hiroshima Prefecture, where they had also been enshrined, and the jinja takes its name from this enshrinement.

In the thirteenth century the jinja was venerated by the leader of naval forces in the Seto Inland Sea, and in the fourteenth century the first Ashikaga Shogun granted land to the jinja after he escaped from danger to arrive at Mitsu port. However, the jinja buildings were destroyed in battles in the early seventeenth century, during the foundation of the Tokugawa Shogunate. They were rebuilt on their current site in 1602.

Under the Tokugawa Shogunate, the lords of local domains were required to travel between their domains and the capital of Edo (modern Tokyo) every year. The lords of Matsuyama domain would visit this jinja to pray for a safe journey, peace in their domain, and success with honour before taking ship for Edo at Mitsu port.