The temple was founded by Gyoki Bodhisattva in 733 at the request of Emperor Shomu. This Shingon Buddhist temple houses the secret principal image of Oikaze Fudo Myo-o, said to have been created by Kobo Daishi Kukai. Temple treasures include the "Flesh-faced Statue of Taiko Hideyoshi," donated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi with his own beard grafted onto it, the calligraphy of Toyokuni Daimyojin by Hideyori when he was eight years old, and the "Koma-inu" guardian dogs created by Hideyoshi's retainer, Sori Shinzaemon. In recent years, the natural history mycetologist Minakata Kumagusu has been based here for a period of research, and the temple grounds remain a "flowering mountain of Buddhism," covered in moss and a variety of trees and flowers throughout the year.