Although there is no clear record showing the location of the kanyain, in the "Yoshufushi" (a history and geographic book on Kyoto written during the Edo period) there is a description of the Shukushi-mura village in the south of Kitano and shukushi (recycled paper) was produced along this river in the past. Therefore, it is called the Kanya-gawa River.'
紙屋（かんや）院の置かれていた位置の明確な記録はないが、『擁州府誌（ようしゆうふし）』には、「北野の南に宿紙（しゅくし）村あり、古この川において宿紙（しゅくし）を製す。故に紙屋（かんや）川と号す。」とある。