There is a legend regarding this bridge.
Preist Shoto came to Nikko in order to civilize the mountainous Nikko, but he could not cross over the Daiya river. Jinjaou (God of snake) appeared from the cloud when Priest Shoto burned a holy fire to ask help. The Jinjaou threw two snakes and these transformed themselves into the bridge.

The Shinkyo had not been vermilion lacquered until 1636 in the period of big reforming. The bridge was washed away by the flood in 1902, but it was rebuilt in 1904.