This shrine is dedicated to sugawara no michizane and has an ancient history, being the second to be built after dazaifu. it is said that in 993, when the emperor's envoy went to dazaifu to appease michizane's spirit, his ox-drawn carriage became immobile in this area. upon learning that this was a place associated with nomi no sukune, who is considered an ancestor of the sugawara clan, the emperor enshrined michizane here.