Long ago, the vicinity of Kamo-jinja Shrine was used for horse racing and as a ranch for raising farm horses, and the shrine itself was established in 736 in order to protect the region. The founding of the temple led to ceremonies and festivals involving horses being held here, developing it into a shrine with strong connections to the animals. Today it is one of only two temples remaining in Japan that conducts the "Ashifuse-no some" ceremony, involving archery from horseback, in the traditional way.