It one of four shrines claiming the title of ichinomiya of former Etchū Province, and has one of the strongest claims, as it is located in close proximity to the ruins of the provincial capital, kokubunji and the Sōja of Etchū Province, and the local place name is also ichinomiya".

The Kita Shrine was rebuilt in the Juei era (1182-1184) by Kiso Yoshinaka after it had been destroyed by a fire.

Under the Edo Period Tokugawa shogunate, Etchū came under the control of the Maeda clan, who continued to patronize the shrine until the Meiji restoration.

In 1931, the Honden of the shrine, dating from the Muromachi period, was designated a National Important Cultural Property.

The shrine is located a 15-minute walk from Etchū-Kokubu Station on the JR West Himi Line.