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　Horaku-ji Temple belongs to the Koyasan Shingon sect of Buddhism, which includes Kongobu-ji Temple on Mount Koya in the Kishu region as its head temple. The temple's principal image is the Eleven-faced, thousand-armed Kannon. The temple is believed to have been founded in the Taika Era (645-650) and opened by the legendary hermit priest Hodo.
　Kasuga Shrine and the main hall at Horakuj-ji Temple have been designated prefectural cultural properties, while many of the temple’s cultural properties—including the bell, main gate, kitchen, bell tower, Kaisan-do Hall, and the large horse-themed ema (votive picture)—have been designated municipal cultural properties.　The temple has also been known throughout history as the setting for the old local legend of “Banshu Inudera Monogatari (The Tale of Banshu Dog Temple),” earning the temple the nickname Banshu Inu-dera Temple.　Horaku-ji Temple was also included as one of 30 Japanese temples introduced in the “Genko Shakusho,” a comprehensive history of Buddhism in Japan written in 1322 by Kokan Shiren Kokushi, who studied at Nanzen-ji Temple. The temple is also widely renowned for its autumn foliage.