He later returned to Kyoto and in May 1197 founded Honen-ji temple on the former property of his father in Nishikikoji, Higashinotoin-nishi.
その後蓮生は京都に戻り、建久8年（1197年）5月、錦小路東洞院西の父貞直の旧地に法然を開山と仰ぎ、御影を安置して法然寺を建立した。