It is known from records that Myoho-in Temple was known by a number of names including 'Ayanokoji-bo', 'Ayanokoji Gosho' (Ayanokoji Imperial Palace) and 'Ayanokoji-gu' during the Kamakura period, and it is believed that the main temple quarters existed in Gionmachi-Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City but it is not known exactly when the temple was relocated to its current site adjacent to Great Buddha of Hoko-ji Temple.
鎌倉時代の妙法院は「綾小路房」「綾小路御所」「綾小路宮」などと呼ばれたことが記録からわかり、現在の京都市東山区祇園町南側あたりに主要な房舎が存在したと思われるが、方広寺大仏に隣接する現在地への移転の時期などは正確にはわかっていない。