A hut site from the Jomon era (8,000 BC) was unearthed at the Yoyogi grounds in 1950. A model of such a hut is now on view while some of the excavated pieces are exhibited in the main temple hall. The shrine was founded by a retainer of Minamoto no Yoritomo, after a dream of his in which an auspicious mirror appeared. The Minamoto family is associated with Hachimangu shrines.