also: みずちゃや
Edo-period roadside teahouse for relaxation
Historical term for a type of teahouse in the Edo period where customers could rest and enjoy tea, distinct from 色茶屋 (teahouses offering sexual services) and 料理茶屋 (restaurant-style teahouses).
In the Edo period, travelers rested at roadside water teahouses.
Unlike brothel teahouses or restaurant teahouses, water teahouses were purely places for relaxation.
A restaurant-style teahouse serving full meals, whereas 水茶屋 primarily served tea and light snacks.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical term.
Alternate reading; both みずぢゃや and みずちゃや are used.
Compound of 水 (water) and 茶屋 (teahouse), referring to a simple teahouse serving tea and water for refreshment.