According to shrine legend, when the entire surrounding area was covered by a lake, Susanoo no mikoto descended and drained the water, after which the shrine was established when a carving of the head of his favorite horse was enshrined at the center of the site.
社伝によれば、附近一帯が湖水に覆われていたころ、素盞嗚尊が天降って水を切り流し、その中心に愛馬の頭を彫刻したものを尊の形見として祀ったのに始まるという。