This residence was built in 1872 in Ikuno for the French geologist and engineer Émile ThéophileEmile Theophile Mouchet (1845–95). Designed by French architect M. J. Lescasse (dates unkown) in the French Colonial style, it housed Mouchet, his wife, and five children while he worked as the second-in-command at Ikuno mine. After his return to France, the house was moved in 1887 to Mikobata, where it was used as an administrative office by Ministry of Finance officials. The following year, its use was transferred to the Department of the Imperial Household; chrysanthemum rooftiles, symbolic of the emperor, still adorn its roof.
In 2004, after the closure of the Mikobata ore processing plant, the Mouchet house became a museum. Its exhibits include pictures of the old plant, samples of ore and minerals, and dioramas that depict the ore-dressing process. There is also a video showing the factory just before its closure in 1987.
While the building has seen some renovations, it remains largely as it was when first built. The original windows and shutters are intact, and it is painted to match its initial appearance. In 1992, the Mouchet house was designated a cultural heritage site of Hyogo Prefecture.