The area around Hōzan-ji was originally a place for the training of Buddhist monks. The name of the place at that time was
Daishō-Mudō-ji (大聖無動寺). Mount Ikoma was originally an object of worship for the ancient people in the region, and so this area was selected as a place for religious training. The training area is said to have opened in 655 by
En no Gyōja. Many Buddhist monks, including
Kūkai (空海), are said to have trained in here. Hozan-ji started when
Tankai (湛海) re-opened this training area in the 17th century. Tankai set up a statue of
Kangiten (Shoten) at this place in 1678, the official year Hozan-ji was established. In the
Edo period, this temple was one of the most popular Buddhist temples in this region. ==Cultural properties==