Legend says that in the eighth century, the deity Wakasahikogami (also known as Onyu Myojin and Hikohohodemi no Mikoto) manifested in Shiraishi in the Shimonegori district along the Onyu River, where the famous Omizu Okuri (“water-sending”) ritual is now held. The deity was worshipped there for some time, but later the enshrinement site was moved to the current location. In the illustrated lineage record kept at Wakasahiko Shrine, the deity is depicted in elaborate exotic clothing. Many similar legends of deities descending to earth or manifesting in front of humans have been passed down in the Negorizaka area, which lies along an old trading route between Obama and the ancient capital of Nara. Since Obama was a port town connecting Nara to mainland Asia, the legend of Wakasahikogami may reflect the foreign influence on Japanese religion at that time.
Historically, what is now Wakasahiko Shrine was part of the Wakasa Province ichinomiya, the shrine considered the most important in the region and designated to receive government patronage. The ichinomiya used to be a large complex that included an Upper Shrine and a Lower Shrine, but at present Wakasahiko Shrine (the Upper Shrine) and Wakasahime Shrine (the Lower Shrine) are regarded as separate. The Zuishin Gate and the main hall of Wakasahiko Shrine, both constructed in the Edo period (1603–1867), are designated Tangible Cultural Properties by Fukui Prefecture.
Wakasahiko Shrine attracts many worshippers, and together with the surrounding forest, it is also known as one of the best “power spots” in Wakasa, a place that has a certain mystical energy that visitors can benefit from.
