This article will tell you a little bit about Kanrantei Tea House’s history and location, and what you can expect during a visit there.
Where is Kanrantei Tea House?
Kanrantei Tea House is located in the bayside town of Matsushima, just a 40 minute train ride north of Sendai. You can take the Senseki Line train to Matsushimakaigan Station and then it’s just a 5 minute walk to the tea house. It is a walkable area with various restaurants, food stands, and souvenir shops.
The tea house is located right off the water, and you can enter through its outdoor gates next to the Matsushima Museum building.
A Brief History
Kanrantei Tea House is a Momoyama-style tea house, built during a period that encompassed the transition of Japanese society from the pre-modern to early modern era. During this same time, the art of the tea ceremony also flourished thanks to many samurai who favored lavish pastimes and embraced influence from Zen Buddhism. Tea houses/rooms, or chashitsu, are typically free-standing structures built specifically for tea ceremonial use for residents and guests alike. Very often the tea rooms are part of a larger property such as feudal lord estates, temples, and parks.
Kanrantei Tea House was originally built in Kyoto by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who later gave it to Date Masamune for his service and loyalty. Masamune’s son then later moved it to its current location. It is said that he severely emphasized that not one single pillar or stone be unpreserved. Kanrantei is a surviving structure from the original site and is an important architectural treasure.
Today, visitors can enter into the tea house to see the fantastic works of arts preserved on its gold-leaf sliding doors, relax on the tatami mat floors and veranda, or sit on the garden benches while looking out to a spectacular view of the bay.
- The tea house’s name means "to watch the ripples of the water."
- It is said that Kanrantei was originally a tea house in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Fushimi-Momoyama Castle.
- Records revealed that it was also used as a temporary residence for feudal lords' wives, visiting princesses, and envoys of the shogun
- Artworks inside the tea house are designated as Important Cultural Properties.
- It consists of two rooms: the main room where guests and hosts gather and tea is served, and the inner room where the tea and refreshments are prepared.
If you'd like to learn more about the powerful samurai lord Date Masamune, the Date Clan, and its influence on the Tohoku region, check out Snow Monkey Resort's 1-Day Tour in Sendai: Zuihoden Mausoleum, Sendai Castle Ruins, and Osaki Hachimangu Shrine – Date Masamune’s Legacy.
Matcha and Sweets
Kanrantei Tea House is a well-preserved historic tea house first and foremost, but it also functions today as a rest area where guests can enjoy hot matcha tea and traditional Japanese sweets.
Upon reaching the admissions gate, you are allowed the option to add a matcha set to your entry. For an extra fee you can choose to pair your matcha with seasonal sweets, squash cake, red bean sweets, or zunda (sweetened crushed edamame paste) mochi. After paying, you are allowed entry into the tea house where you can view the beautifully preserved painted interior up close. There are small benches in front of the veranda too where you can sit close to the fenced off edge of the cliff.
Once the staff serves you your matcha and sweets, you can take your time to relax and enjoy the harmonized flavors of earthy, smooth matcha and delicate sweet treats.
Scenic View of the Bay
One major draw to Kanrantei Tea House is the beautiful view it has overlooking Matsushima Bay. The view's of the bay (known as one of Japan's Top Three Scenic Spots) even left the famous Haiku poet Matsuo Basho speechless at it's beauty.
Since it is located right on the edge of the water, on clear days you can enjoy a front-row seat of the water. The veranda is open-air so not only can you see the bay, but also feel the calming ocean breeze. There are periodic boat cruises setting sail from the nearby pier too, giving you an even more photogenic scene to take in at your leisure.
There are tables set inside the tatami mat room where you can sit and enjoy your refreshments much like the lords and ladies did years ago. Although many tea houses such as Urakuen follow the traditional ceremony of matcha for guests to experience, Kanrantei is a more relaxed environment without any strict rules or ceremony.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I get to Kanrantei Tea House?
From Tokyo:
Take the Akita or Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station and alight at Sendai Station. At Sendai Station, transfer to the local lines. From Platform 10, take the Senseki Line bound for Ishinomaki or Takagimachi Station and get off at Matsushimakaigan Station. Then walk for about 5 minutes to the tea house. The trip in total can take upwards to 3 or more hours including waiting times.
Purchasing a JR Pass or JR East Pass is great for those planning on traveling long distances or using the shinkansen many times throughout their trip.
From Sendai Station:
From Platform 10, take the Senseki Line bound for Ishinomaki or Takagimachi Station and get off at Matsushimakaigan Station. There are no transfers and the train ride is about 40 minutes. Walk for another 5 minutes to the tea house. Trains on the Senseki Line that stop at Matsushimakaigan Station run about 3 times an hour.
Are traditional tea ceremonies performed here?
No. Although Kanrantei Tea House was a place of ceremony, now it serves as a historically preserved museum which offers freshly brewed matcha and traditional sweets that are simply served to guests.
Is there food sold here or nearby?
Yes. Kanrantei Tea House serves matcha tea and sweets sets.
There are also plenty of local shops located within a convenient walking distance from Kanrantei Tea House. The area itself is a popular tourist destination so you’ll find a good variety of shops.
Is the temple wheelchair accessible?
No. The garden area and the entrance to the small museum near the tea house are stated to be wheelchair accessible by the Matsushima Tourism Association, however the actual entrance into the tea house does not have a ramp. So the entire location may not be appropriate for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility.
I want to visit Kanrantei Tea House. Can you help?
Yes! Snow Monkey Resorts currently offers this 1-Day Tour from Sendai: Matsushima Bay — Highlights from One of Japan’s Three Most Scenic Views where you will get a chance to go to Kanrantei Tea House. Matsushima Bay’s 260 pine-clad islands create a breathtaking view that is a must-see while visiting the Tohoku region of Japan. You will walk through history, take in the ocean-side views, and discover the quaint charms of this seaside town.
New Tour
1-Day Tour from Sendai: Matsushima Bay — Highlights from One of Japan’s Three Most Scenic Views
- Spots:
- Matsushima
- Pick-up:
- Sendai
- Drop-off:
- Sendai
Additional Tips
- Try a local delicacy: When ordering a matcha and sweets set at the admissions booth of the tea house, it is highly recommended to get the zunda mochi set. Zunda is a Miyagi prefecture delicacy and pairs wonderfully with traditional matcha tea.
- Check out the small museum: The admission fee grants entrance into the Matsushima Museum, a one-room display of armor, accessories, cosmetics, and calligraphy that have been passed down through the Date family. There is also a 1/5000 scale model of Matsushima, allowing visitors to see the overall layout of the island. It is small but offers a nice little peek at Matsushima history as well as some local flora and fauna information.
- Combine with a visit to Sendai: With its convenient straight-shot train ride from Sendai, the city of trees is a great companion for your trip to the less beaten paths of Tohoku.
