Daiun-in was established in 1587 (the 15th year of the Tensho Period). Originally, it was located at Nijo New Imperial Palace, in what is now around the area slightly south of Nijo on Karasuma-dori Street.

However, due to *Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s city redevelopment plan, the city center was enclosed by castle walls (known as “o-do-i”) and temples were gathered along Kyogoku-oji Street (what is now Teramachi-dori Street) that bordered the eastern side of these walls. In 1590 (the 18th year of the Tensho Period), Daiun-in was relocated to a place slightly south of Shijo on Teramachi-dori Street. This relocation greatly expanded Daiun-in’s grounds. This was reportedly the special consideration of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who took refuge in the temple’s founder, Teian.

*Toyotomi Hideyoshi was a military commander who succeeded the late Oda Nobunaga to unify the whole country. He was one of the most popular and well-known military leaders in Japanese history as Oda Nobunaga.

After World WarⅡ, as the area around the temple became the center of the downtown area, Daiun-in established Minamidani Betsuin Annex in the Imakumano district, Higashiyama in 1962 (the 37th year of the Showa Period). Then, in 1973 (the 48th year of the Showa Period), the main temple also moved to Makuzugahara at the foot of Higashiyama in the eastern part of Kyoto. This place passed through the hands of many people before its relocation, leaving behind various remnants and historical traces.