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  • 4
  • Nice intro to Japanese desserts with a view!

Kanrantei is one of my top 3 places in Matsushima to visit, and I love going with friends. It's open daily year-round, and the desserts offered vary somewhat by season. For example, I tried the "namagashi" (a more moist, fresh dessert) in summer and it was in the shape of a hydrangea flower. Most of the items are made from rice, but pounded and prepared in ways that you would hardly know it. My personal favorite is perhaps less traditional, the sweet squash cake (aka kabocha no taruto). It's only available here and were it's made, Matsuda Confectionery across from Hotel Daimatsuso. If you want to try a few different ones at once, the "Ladies Set", has 3 rotating items. It's recommended to taste the sweet first before the tea to prepare your mouth for the slight bitterness of the powdered matcha tea. In summer you can substitute iced matcha for matcha at no charge. There's a small museum in back which most people miss but has interesting samurai artifacts. It's included with admission (200 yen). While technically wheelchair accessible (go up the ramp in back and sit right in front of the building), the ground surface is fine gravel which may be a bit challenging. Updated from previous review on 2017-07-03


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