According to 'Katsura Sato' of "Yamashiro no kuni Fudoki" (which is incomplete), when Tsukiyomi no mikoto-who had been instructed by Amaterasu Omikami to descend to Toyoashiharano nakatsukuni-visited Ukemochi no kami (the god of whole grain), he (or she) stood against a 'Yutsu katsura' (the Japanese Judas tree); thus the place is called 'Katsura Sato.'
『山城国風土記』（逸文）の「桂里」でも、「月読尊」が天照大神の勅を受けて、豊葦原の中つ国に下り、保食神のもとに至ったとき、湯津桂に寄って立ったという伝説があり、そこから「桂里」という地名が起こったと伝えている。