Mino, being close to Kyoto, was the province Kuninao was most familiar with; his ancestors MINAMOTO no Yorimitsu and MINAMOTO no Yorikuni had served as Kokushi (provincial governor) of Mino Province, and his father, Yoritsuna, had accompanied Yorikuni when he went to Mino.
都に程近く熟国とされる美濃は、先祖の源頼光、源頼国が国司に任じられ共に下向しており、父頼綱は頼国の下向に同行していた。