Per the Hitachi-koku Fudoki, an ancient record and per shrine tradition, it was established in 643 BC, the 18th year of the reign of Emperor Jimmu.

As the Hitachi-koku Fudoki dates from the early 7th century, the shrine must certainly have been founded earlier than this.

The shrine appears in all of the Rikkokushi official national histories, which cover events to 887.

[4] During the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, Katori Jingū was revered as a shrine for the military class and received many donations from Minamoto no Yoritomo and Ashikaga Takauji.

It also earned income from its control of fishing rights in the Katori Sea and highway barriers in both Hitachi Province and Shimōsa.