According to legend, the temple's five-storey pagoda was created by Prince Shotoku in the year 592 after Nyoirin Kannon (Cintamanicakra) appeared to him in a dream, following which he made an offering of three of Budda's ashes and named the temple Hokan-ji.
伝承によれば、当寺の五重塔は592年聖徳太子が如意輪観音の夢告により建てたとされ、その際、仏舎利を三粒を収めて法観寺と号したという。