Mittan

A tea room built into the shoin (a National Treasure) of Ryōkō-in, a sub-temple of Daitoku-ji, known as the Mittan-seki. Built in the Kan'ei era (1624–43), it is a somewhat shoin-like four-and-a-half-mat daime room said to reflect the taste of Kobori Enshū. Its two alcoves are said to have been made to hang a calligraphy by the Song Zen master Mittan Kanketsu and a letter by Sen no Rikyū.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes ornate detailing, especially the staggered shelves on the west side, alongside a neatly handled centre post and board wing wall. The room was first built on its own; around 1649 larger rooms and a broad veranda were added around it to form a single shoin. It is regarded as a representative surviving tea room of the early Edo period.

Ryōkō-in was founded in 1606 by Kuroda Nagamasa to pray for his father Yoshitaka (Josui). The shoin was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1908 and a National Treasure in 1961. It is one of the three surviving National Treasure tea rooms, with Jo-an and Tai-an.