After Emperor Uda entered the priesthood, he built priests' living quarters called "Omuro" for himself in the southwest of the Ninna-ji Garan (Monastery) and lived there; at the time it was nicknamed "Omuro (Ninna-ji) gosho (Imperial Palace)".
宇多天皇は出家後、仁和寺伽藍の西南に「御室」（おむろ）と呼ばれる僧坊を建てて住んだため、当寺には「御室（仁和寺）御所」の別称がある。