Ogawa Tosanokami Suketada, who served Toyotomi Hideyoshi, suffered defeat at the Battle of Sekigahara and later entered the Buddhist priesthood.
His son Yorozuya Heiemon, began working here as a rice dealer, moneychanger. He had this home constructed around 1670.
Throughout its history, this house has been used as an encampment by several feudal lords of small to medium-size feudal estates visiting Nijo Castle or Kyoto Shoshidai, as the offices of a law firm, and as a political base for the town magistrate's office.
As a result, it contains several fire-prevention innovations as well as hidden stairs, hiding places for retaiers, and numerous other special structures and facilities.