In around 1897 to 1906, Gentaro TANAKA, who was the founder of the Kyoto railway company (present Sanin Main Line) and a member of Kizokuin (the upper house of the Imperial Diet under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan), reformed the house where he was born into the present form.
明治30年代、京都鉄道会社（現在の山陰本線）の創設者で貴族院議員である田中源太郎が自らの生家を改築したものである。