They say that Zenshu who was a priest of Hososhu (one of Nanto Rokushu (the six sects of Buddhism which flourished in ancient Nara)) founded Akishino-dera Temple in the Nara period or that the Akishino clan, a local powerful family, founded it, but its exact founding date and circumstances are not clear.
奈良時代の法相宗（南都六宗の1つ）の僧・善珠が創建したとされ、地元の豪族秋篠氏の氏寺とも言われているが、創建の具体的な時期や事情については、たしかなことはわかっていない。