It is believed to have originated from Ichijo Oji (Kitaoji) of the Heian-kyo (Kyoto during the Heian period), but the current 'Kitaoji-dori Street' that runs through the Kita and Sakyo Wards of Kyoto City was completed from the city planning made before the World War II and is located apart from Ichijo Oji of Heian-kyo (the ancient capital of Japan in current Kyoto) (current Ichijo-dori Street).
起源は平安京の一条大路（北大路）と思われるが、現在の京都市北区(京都市)・左京区を通る「北大路通」は第二次世界大戦前の都市計画により完成したものであり、平安京の一条大路（現在の一条通）とは離れた位置にある。