Ijinkan was built in 1867 as a lodging facility for British engineers working at a Western-style spinning mill. The blended Western styles of the verandas and exterior of the building is reminiscent of the westernization of Meiji-era Japan, and the site has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and Important Cultural Property. In 2015, it was also registered as a World Heritage Site due to its part in influencing the Industrial Revolution of Meiji-era Japan. The interior of the building has been modernized and a number of pictures and documents are on display, letting visitors feel as if they have slipped back in time.