History

Formerly known as Hariso Ryokan

Hariso (formerly known as Hariso Ryokan) was founded in 1861 in Minami-zaimokucho, Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Initially, it was a grocery store selling miso, soy sauce, and vegetables. Until World War II, it also served as a collection point for tenant farmers’ rice as well as a pawnshop, even venturing into finance. It is said that through these businesses, the previous owners had close relationships with prominent figures such as poet Bansui Doi and scholar Jiro Abe.

Because many inns burned down during World War II in the Sendai city center and there was a shortage of accommodation in Sendai after the war, Hariso opened the Hariso Ryokan Inn in 1951. Hariso Ryokan provided lodging for a wide range of people, including scholars visiting Tohoku University after the war, politician Fusae Ichikawa, Kadokawa Shoten founder Genyoshi Kadokawa, sumo wrestlers on tour in Sendai, and students visiting from other prefectures. Its hospitality earned it a reputation as a trusted inn until its closure in 1987.

After its closure, Hariso Ryokan was repurposed as a residence, rendering its interior inaccessible to the public. However, the architecture still evokes its past, with the well-preserved namako walls representing mid-Meiji period design; the Japanese-Western mixed-style house expanded in 1932. These architectural elements were recognized for their significance, and in 2017, the former Hariso Ryokan was designated as a Structure of Landscape Importance of Sendai.

Hariso Ryokan offers a unique ambiance where one can experience not only the architectural styles of various eras but the cultural interplay of the people who shaped those times. It was once a haven for all, where the diversity of its guests was embraced as part of its charm.