The Atago Shrine was built under orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu to enshrine a deity of fire protection. Ieyasu made the order at the same time he created the Tokugawa government over Edo (former name of Tokyo). The fire kami (deity), named Kagutsuchi, comes from Japanese mythology. The shrine is located in the center of Tokyo, in a district famous for business and government offices. However, the shrine is places in a secluded spot surrounded by nature, so it is considered a healing spot within the overwhelming city of Tokyo.

Atago Mountain, upon which the Atago Shrine sits, is said to be the highest mountain in all 23 districts of Tokyo. The elevation is 25.7 meters tall, which does not seem very high nowadays, but in the Edo period (1603-1868), there were no skyscrapers or other tall structures, so it was much more impressive. From that era, it was recorded that it was possible to view the Chiba prefecture from the top of the shrine.