History

The shrine legend tells us that it was founded sometime during the Kanbun Period (1661-1673): this is probably true as it is mentioned in a kakiagechō of 1686.  It housed the tutelary deity for Ohayashi-machi (御林町, lit. “Honorable forest town”) in Ōi-mura, now part of the Ōi district of Shinagawa. Its name derives from the fact that it was developed as forest land under the direct jurisdiction of the Bakufu and tasked with providing timber for Edo Castle. Close to the waterfront as it was, it also harboured a small fishing port, Ohayashi-ura,  and this was one of the eight bays or creeks where the Osai-sakana-hachikaura, official suppliers of marine produce to the Tokugawa Shōgunate, were located.  These suppliers were given special rights, and for its part Ohayashi-ura effectivelycontrolled the fishing businesses of 44 inlets flowing into Edo Bay, and it is perhaps not surprising that  Ohayashi-machi flourished against this background. As the town, so the shrine.