The Kusakabe family were successful Takayama merchants who thrived in the late Edo and early Meiji periods. Their store, called Taniya, lent money to the public office at interest. By 1852, they also ran the Taniya as an exchange house. In 1875, the Taniya burned down, and the present house was rebuilt on the same spot four years later under the direction of master carpenter Jisuke Kawashiri.

The design has many characteristics of late-Edo-era architecture. These include the following:

An overall two-story design with stairwells, all made of Japanese Cypress (Hinoki).
Exposed heavy beams and pillars.
A gently slanting roof with moderate eaves.
Slender latticework on the windows.
A dark brown paint finish made from soot.

Since 1966, the house has functioned as a folk museum and is open to the public.