The other three great temples were relocated to Heijokyo at the time of the move of the capital to Heijokyo, but Kawara-dera Temple remained in the Asuka area.
平城京遷都とともに他の三大寺（飛鳥寺、薬師寺、大官大寺）はその本拠を平城京へ移したが、川原寺は移転せず、飛鳥の地にとどまった。