Domyoji Temple was established as a family temple in 594 by Haji no Muraji Yashima. The principal object of worship venerated at the temple is an 11-faced statue of the bodhisattva Kannon (a national treasure), and is said to have been carved by Sugawara no Michizane during a stay. Similarly, Michizane is said to have stopped at the temple to bid farewell to his aunt Kakujuni, who was the priest in residence at the time. This visit was made along Michizane's path on his journey to exile in Dazaifu in the south, and the tale is still told in bunraku and kabuki plays. The domyojiko rice flour used in sakura-mochi rice cake treats can also trace its origins to this tale. After Michizane began his exile in Dazaifu, people discovered that the dried leftover powder from the food Kakujuni prepared in offering for his happiness could also be stored and used to feed many people. After his death, the temple took on Michizane's alternate name "Domyo" to become Domyoji Temple.