This temple site was formerly the mountain villa of KIYOHARA no Natsuno (782 - 837), a nobleman in the early Heian period, and was converted into a temple after his death, which was to be the predecessor of Hokongo-in Temple.
この地には平安初期の貴族・清原夏野（782年-837年）の山荘があり、夏野の死後、山荘を寺に改めたものが当寺の前身であるという。