Translation guide
A place where tea is served, ranging from traditional Japanese tea ceremony rooms to casual cafes and Chinese-style tea shops.
A dedicated space for the Japanese tea ceremony (sadō/chadō), often a small, rustic structure in a garden.
A room or standalone structure specifically designed for the Japanese tea ceremony. It is the most common and precise term.
この茶室は400年前に建てられました。
This teahouse was built 400 years ago.
A small teahouse or tea pavilion, often in a garden. More literary or traditional in feel.
庭園の奥に趣のある茶亭があります。
There is a charming teahouse at the back of the garden.
A casual establishment serving Japanese tea, sweets, and light meals, often in a traditional or modern setting.
A traditional-style tea shop, often found in historic districts or gardens, serving matcha, sencha, and Japanese sweets. Can also refer to a teahouse in a pleasure district historically, but modern usage is innocent.
浅草で古い茶屋に入って抹茶を飲みました。
I went into an old teahouse in Asakusa and drank matcha.
A coffee shop or kissaten, often serving tea as well. While primarily associated with coffee, many traditional kissaten offer a wide selection of teas and a retro atmosphere. Use this if the place is more of a general cafe.
A place serving Chinese tea, often with a focus on gongfu tea ceremony and a serene atmosphere.
Specifically a Chinese-style teahouse. Use this to avoid confusion with Japanese tea establishments.
横浜中華街で中国茶館を見つけました。
I found a Chinese teahouse in Yokohama Chinatown.
A teahouse specializing in Chinese tea art (茶藝). Often used for upscale or authentic Chinese tea experiences.
本格的な茶藝館で烏龍茶を楽しみました。
I enjoyed oolong tea at an authentic Chinese teahouse.
A small, often open-air structure in a garden or park where tea and light refreshments are served.
A gazebo or arbor, often used as a resting place in gardens. While not exclusively a teahouse, it is commonly used for serving tea in traditional gardens.
公園の東屋でお茶を飲みながら休憩しました。
We rested while drinking tea at the teahouse in the park.
Alternate kanji for 東屋, same meaning. Rarely used.
茶室 (chashitsu) is a formal tea ceremony room, often part of a temple or private residence. 茶屋 (chaya) is a casual traditional tea shop, often found in tourist areas. 喫茶店 (kissaten) is a coffee shop that also serves tea, with a retro vibe. Choose based on the formality and type of establishment.
Simply saying 'teahouse' in English can be ambiguous. In Japanese, the specific term depends heavily on context. Using the wrong word can lead to confusion (e.g., using 茶室 for a casual cafe).
この喫茶店は紅茶の種類が豊富です。
This teahouse has a wide variety of black teas.
庭の四阿で一服した。
We took a break at the teahouse in the garden.