This temple is one of the eight head temples of the Jodo sect.
The priest Seikanbogenchi constructed a Mieido Hall in the north of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Seikanbogenchi named the hall Kudokuin Chionji Temple, and this is the beginning of this temple.
The temple was moved from place to place and finally located in this present site in 1661.
The main hall has a wooden statue of the priest Honen as the principal image of the temple.
The statue was said to be in the image of Honen when he was 43 years old.