It is said that during the move of the capital from Nara to Kyoto, a noble saw a turtle bathing under the spring's waterfall and created a shrine there.

The restorative properties of the spring bring many local sake and miso companies to the shrine for prayers that their product will be blessed.

The shrine also serves a kinpaku miki (gold leaf filled blessed sake) during hatsumōde.

[1] In 965, Emperor Murakami ordered that Imperial messengers were sent to report important events to the guardian kami of Japan.

[2] From 1871 through 1946, Matsunoo-taisha was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.