The temple houses two National Treasure Maitreya statues, both depicting the same deity in the iconic half-lotus contemplative pose.

Founded by the Hata clan, an immigrant family skilled in sericulture and sake brewing, the temple connects to nearby shrines dedicated to silkworms and alcohol deities.

Historic records disagree on the founding date by nearly 20 years, suggesting two separate temples may have merged, or construction took decades to complete.

Kyoto's oldest temple was founded in 603 when Hata no Kawakatsu received a Buddhist statue from Prince Shōtoku, predating the city of Kyoto itself by two centuries.