This is a general layout of a tea room Before the tea gathering, the host must make sure that the tea room is thoroughly cleaned and that the fire pit, the tatami, and the linen tea cloth, the tea whisk, the ladle and the fukusa are all spotless. The chopsticks, the lid rest, the water pipe leading to the wash basin, the chopsticks for the debris pit in the garden are all replaced by new ones made of green bamboo. All the tea utensils used for the ceremony must be arranged in their proper places. Once all this is done, the tea ceremony can begin as soon as the guests arrive.
A small room near the gate in the garden is always provided for the guests to wait before the start of the ceremony. A carpet is laid out there for the guests to sit on and cups of hot water are provided for anyone who is thirsty. An iron kettle is put above the stove. A tobacco tray is placed inside the waiting room with a container for loose tobacco nearby, as well as two Japanese pipes. There is no smoking permitted in the tea room.
The dominant impression one has in entering a chashitsu , a tea house, is one of restful and very subdued light. The teahouse stands in contrast to ordinary Japanese household architecture in its lack of openness. In teahouses, window openings are small and carefully placed to put light exactly where it will be most effective.
The size of tearooms can vary from one-and-three-quarter mats (tatami) up to not more than eight. They often have thatched roofs, clay walls, and are constructed of inexpensive materials such as cedar, bamboo, paulownia, and pine. Such teahouses evoke the classic abode of the Buddhist recluse.
When tea is taken at a teahouse, the practice is to use two cups: a large one for brewing that will hold about a half-pint, and a thimble cup, smaller than a demi-tasse saucer, which is placed bottom-side-up over it.
The Floor
The floor of the teahouse is covered with a bamboo mat called a tatami mat. The floor is raised only in the alcove and is decorated with celebrated tea articles of ancient origin.
The Ceiling
The houses were built with high ceilings, but it was found that the height in a small tea room made guests feel unrestful. Then, the ceilings were reduced to seven feet, then to six. To avoid a cramped feeling, the ceiling had alternating heights. For example, the alcove ceiling was made a little higher than the ceiling in other parts of the room and was covered with a piece of board, while the ceiling above the host's seat as made a little lower than the section above the guests' place in order to show humility. The lightweight materials used for tea room ceilings were shingles, wickerwork, bamboo and reeds.
The Walls
Paper walls evolved into mud walls when the builders began to use logs as supporting posts. The use of mud walls made it possible to create rooms with rounded corners and for tea rooms to be built in a circular shape around a central post.
The Windows
The windows of the tea room were closely related to the construction of the walls. A lintel was laid out from one post to another, and the space between them was made into a window. This structure let little light into the small tea hut and the lintel looked out of place so a window cut into the lower area of the wall could be built in various sizes and allowed more light in. Such low windows provided ventilation and a better view of the garden or natural scenery, since people sat on the floor. Another characteristic of the tea hut window was the bamboo grilles which not only let in more light, but helped to create a mood of serenity.
The Host's Entrance
This is a miniature entrance used by the host, originally lower than it is today, through which the host has to crouch to enter--another device that installed a sense of humility in the host.
The Guests' Entrance
This is a second entrance through which guests have to stoop to enter the tea room. The entrance is made of wood. The guests' crouched entrance signified humility, but also, as the room became smaller it was necessary to stoop at the entrance to look at the hanging scroll inside. It also showed respect to the guests already seated in the house.
Some people say that the entrance is designed in a way as to prevent the entrance of intruders, but this is doubtful because the door is only a quarter of an inch thick and could easily be broken with a push. The door of the tea room is left slightly open so it could be opened with ease. When the guest crouches on the stepping stone and touches the door, he finds it still wet in places, which gives him/her a refreshing feeling. The moment the door is opened, the alcove and hanging scroll come into view. From this point, she/he can see the interior of the small room. After a quick glimpse, she/he bends over and creeps in, head first. The last guest to enter shuts and latches the door. The door latch gives the guests a feeling of isolation.
