The year and origin of the foundation of Ujigami Shrine (宇治上神社) is unknown. There is Uji Shrine nearby, and it is said that Ujigami Shrine and the two shrines were one. The main shrine was built in the late Heian period around 1060 and is the oldest existing shrine architecture in Japan. It is said to be deeply related to the foundation of Byodo-in Temple in 1052. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the assets constituting the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto".