I was shown around this shrine, and other shrines in Maizuru, by a good friend and resident of the city, Junko Nomura. The shrine legend tells us that its origins date to March 23, 485 during the reign of the 23rd emperor, Kenzo, when the shrine pillars were erected and the deity enshrined, although the details are not clear. A ceremony was held on September 28 of the following year and the shrine became known as Tenichi Okawa Daimyojin. In 859 it was given Junior Fifth ranking and in 861 it was raised to Senior Fifth Rank Lower ranking. It is included in the Tango Province, Kasa District entry in the Engi-Shiki, where of eleven shrines it is the only one designated as major. It is also one of the 285 shrines listed in the same work whose Kami is officially recognized as Myojin (名神).It is also mentioned in the Six National Histories.

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During the Edo Period it received the patronage of the Hosokawa Clan, the lords of Tanabe Province. In 1872 it was designated a Village Shrine, and in 1919 it became a Prefectural Shrine.  In 1881 it was named as Okawa Jinja in a letter from an imperial prince.

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The current main hall was built in 1872, the prayer hall in 1820, and the central gate in 1790. All three buildings were named as Designated Cultural Properties by Maizuru City in 1996. There is a Sazare-ishi in the shrine grounds.

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Note that the five non-Main Kami are also Kami of the five elements, Kukunochi of trees/wood, Kagutsuchi of fire, Haniyama-hime of earth, Kanayama-hiko of metal, and  Mizuhame of water. Note also that they are all closely associated with Izanami’s death. It was while giving birth to Kagutsuchi that her vagina burned and she died a very painful death. The two Kanayama emerged from her vomit as she lay dying; the two Haniyasu and Mizuhane from her faeces.  

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