This shrine is listed in the "engishiki jinmyocho," a register of shrines compiled in the 10th century. it is also called sumiyoshi shrine because it enshrines sumiyoshi okami, and after the meiji restoration, suwa shrine and taishogun shrine were relocated to the shrine grounds. there is a theory that the shrine's name originates from the ato no muraji clan, a powerful family mentioned in the "shinsen shojiroku."