The temple was reputedly founded at the imperial order of the Emperor Tenchi, whose reign was in the seventh century, and the ancient burial mound of Hashihito no himemiko, a younger sister of the Emperor, is within its vicinity.
天智天皇の勅願により創建されたとされ、近くには妹・間人皇女（はしひとのひめみこ）を葬る古墳がある。