It was originally called Gojo-dori Street because the Gojo-ohashi Bridge crossing the Kamo-gawa River (Yodo-gawa water system) was moved to Rokujo-bomon-koji Street by Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI, who wanted to visit Hoko-ji Temple.
豊臣秀吉が、方広寺参拝のため、鴨川(淀川水系)に架かる五条大橋を六条坊門小路に移設したため、この通りが五条通となった。