It was founded in the mid Heian period by FUJIWARA no Tamemitsu and, following this, Emperor Goshirakawa centered his court at the temple as 'Hojuji-dono Palace' during his period of cloistered rule.
平安時代中期に藤原為光によって創設され、その後院政期にはこの寺を中心に後白河天皇の宮廷「法住寺殿」がいとなまれた。