Sairiyashiki

Address: Miyagi-ken, Igu-gun, Marumori-chou, Azamachinishi 25
Tel: 022-472-6636
Open time: 9:30-17:00
Web site: http://www.marumori.net/sairi.html
Total spent: 600 yen

Rekishi ha ne
Omoshiroi kara
Oboeyou

Initially starting as a draper's shop, Sairiyashiki is a large property in the town of Marumori. The Saito family owned the place, and the word Sairiyashiki comes from the name of the patriarch of the family, Saito Risuke.
The third generation of the family used to sell many goods at Sairiyashiki, like silk and Japanese silk (kiito). Hydroelectric power was also generated there at that time, making it very prosperous.
Sairiyashiki experienced another period of great development in the first years of the Showa era (1926-1989). It was the halfway point for the rice produced in Fukushima, which used to be sent to Matsushima through the Abukumagawa river.
For this reason, the Saito family became very rich and owned many lands in the region. However, these properties were lost due to the agrarian reform that happened after the World War II.
The seventh generation interrupted the activities and moved to Sendai. Sairiyashiki became uninhabited for 35 years (the children even used to say it was a haunted place!). After this time, the seventh generation donated the place to the town of Marumori.
More than 5500 items (including tools, toys, photos, letters) were also donated by the previous owners and can be seen by the visitors. For this reason, despite existing other places bigger than Sairiyashiki, they do not have so many items. That also explains why Sairiyashiki has many repeater visitors. Sairiyashiki is a nice place to learn a lot about the history of the region and really make a trip to the past!

05/30/2010　Mateus Cruz