In the Edo period, the ruins of a large Buddhist edifice could be seen about 2km north from the Fuchū post station along the Kōshu Highway. The ruins included not only foundation stones of the temple, but also old roof tiles on which county names of the Musashi-no-kuni Province were carved. As interest in topography blossomed in the late Edo period, investigations were conducted on these types of monuments all around the country.