The original San Juan Bautista was constructed using Japanese craftsmanship but designed with Western ship-building technology.
The mission traveled across the Pacific to Acapulco, then overland to Mexico City, and eventually to Rome, making it one of the longest diplomatic journeys of the era.
The museum serves as a memorial to the historical significance of the Sendai Domain's early engagement with global maritime trade.
Hasekura Tsunenaga, the mission leader, was among the first Japanese individuals to visit the Americas and Europe.
The ship replica features intricate wooden details that replicate the specific techniques employed during the Keicho era.
The Miyagi Sant Juan Bautista Museum is a specialized historical institution dedicated to the Keicho-era diplomatic mission to Europe led by Hasekura Tsunenaga in 1613. The museum houses a full-scale reconstruction of the San Juan Bautista, the galleon-style ship constructed by the Date clan to cross the Pacific Ocean. This site documents the origins of Japan's earliest trans-Pacific trade and diplomatic ties with Mexico, Spain, and the Vatican. The permanent exhibition hall chronicles the 17th-century voyage and the cultural exchange between the Sendai Domain and the West. Visitors can explore the ship replica, which demonstrates the period's advanced Japanese naval architecture and shipbuilding techniques.
From the observation deck overlooking the bow of the San Juan Bautista replica, capturing the ship against the backdrop of the ocean.
Prioritize walking the outdoor deck of the ship replica to see the scale of 17th-century naval construction.
Read the bilingual exhibit placards carefully, as they contain original documents regarding the mission's interactions with Spanish authorities.
Combine the visit with a walk around the surrounding park area, which offers views of the Pacific coastline.
Attempting to visit without checking the website for temporary closures, as the facility sometimes undergoes maintenance on the ship structure.
Closed on Tuesdays. If a public holiday falls on a Tuesday, the museum is typically open and closed the following Wednesday.
