This sanatorium was opened in 1909 as the Hokubu Hoyo-in. It was one of the first five publicly run leprosy sanatoria opened in 1909 following the enactment of the first leprosy prevention law in 1907. Its name was changed to Matsuoka Hoyo-en in 1941.

Matsuoka Hoyo-en covered patients from northern regions including Hokkaido and six other northern provinces. Opened with the capacity for 90 beds, it reached 950 by 1953.

As one of Japan's national sanatoria, it is still open today. As of December 31, 2015, there were 91 residents (former patients), with an average age of 84.