The deity worshipped at the shrine is Ninomiya Sontoku, accompanied by his consorts, Ninomiya Sonko, Sontoku's legitimate son, and Tomita Kokei, his most senior disciple. Originally, this shrine was designated as a prefectural shrine.
Ninomiya Sontoku was a prominent figure during the Edo period. He passed away at what is now the Hotoku office in Nikko City while working on the revitalization of rural areas in Nikko. Later, during the Meiji period, a shrine was constructed in Imaichi, the historic site of Sontoku's death.