According to the Kanemi Kyōki (兼見卿記） diary kept by the nobleman Yoshida Kanemi, who was chief priest at Yoshida Shrine in Kyoto, the bamboo grove of Kitano Tenmangū shrine was packed with more than 800 tea houses and other spaces for preparing and serving tea by the 28th day of the ninth month, 1587. And it is estimated that altogether approximately 1,500-1,600 such tea venues had quickly been set up by the 30th of that month, the day before the event was to commence.Sen Sōsa, Sen Sōshitsu and Sen Sōshū, supervising editors. Rikyū Daijiten (利休大辞典; Rikyū Encyclopedia), pp. 75-77 entry "Kitano ōchanoyu no junbi" (Preparations for the Kitano Grand Tea Gathering). Tankosha Publishing Co., 1989. . Amongst the participants were Hideyoshi's three tea masters Sen no Rikyū, Tsuda Sōgyū, and Imai Sōkyū, as well as nobles and warriors. The set-up were various stations where each host accommodated very small to larger groups and prepared tea in front of them and served it. The Golden Tea Room was also set up in the gardens of the shrine.
