Historical Background

"A place to view ripples on the water" 

Kanrantei is an old samurai teahouse, its history going way back to the Momoyama period. It is said to have first been built in Kyoto over 400 years ago by Toyotomi-Hideyoshi, as part of his Fushimi castle, but later given to Date-Masamune, the feudal lord of Sendai. Masamune further gave it to his son, who moved the tea house to its current location, careful that "no pillar nor stone was altered in the process."

        The Date family used Kanrantei as a guest house for Date Masamunes' wives, and entertaining important visitors with the scenery it offered. The name of the house means "A place to view ripples on the water". It was used as a place to view not just the water but the moon too. Today, every fall during harvest moon in September, special moon-viewing events are still organized with longer evening opening hours. 

Kanrantei received the status of Prefectural Cultural Property in Miyagi prefecture on the 3th of march, 1953.

Characteristics

The tea house is built with the architectural style of shoin-zukuri, which was typical for Momoyama period. With two rooms, both the size of 18 tatami mats, the house is very spacious. The rooms are surrounded by a single corridor around them.

The fusuma (sliding doors) were designed to be brilliant and dignified according to the building lords' wishes. They still have paintings made of actual gold leaf, and are recognized as an important cultural property.

Behind the tea house you can find the Matsushima museum, holding historic objects related to the Date family and the bay, such as armor, battle flags and maps. Entry to the museum is included in the price of the admission ticket.