To start operating the Nara Electric Railway, an underground station was projected for construction just below the Karasuma-guchi (Karasuma Exit) (the north-side center entrance/exit) of the then Japan National Railway (JNR) Kyoto Station; however, in addition to the strained construction cost, due to the provision that the construction would not meet the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Showa (Showa-no-Sokui no Rei or Onie no Matsuri) to be held in November 1928 in the Kyoto Imperial Palace, it was decided to construct a provisional station building on the Hachijo-guchi side (Hachijo Exit) (south entrance/exit).
奈良電が開業するにあたっては、当時の国鉄京都駅の烏丸口（北側の中央口）直下に奈良電の地下ターミナル駅を設ける予定であったが、この工事費用の問題に加え、1928年11月に京都御所で昭和天皇の即位の礼昭和の即位の礼・大嘗祭に時間的に間に合わないことから、八条口（南口）側に仮設駅を設けることになった。