Hokoku-ji Temple was constructed by the Emperor Goyozei's mother Haruko KAJUJI as a memorial to his father Haremigi KAJUJI and its name was originally written using a different character for the word "ho" (豊) but given its current name after the death of Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI (豊臣) so as not to give the Tokugawa family a bad impression.
法国寺は後陽成天皇の母・勧修寺晴子が、父・勧修寺晴秀（かじゅうじはれみぎ）の追善のために建てた寺で、当初「豊国寺」と称したが、豊臣秀吉の没後、徳川家をはばかって「法国寺」に改称したという。