Set within a private residence in Roppongi, Tokyo, this freestanding tea house is a quiet retreat for the practice of tea, combining a three-and-a-half-mat room (san-jō daime), a mizuya, and a sheltered waiting bench.
Rather than clearing the site, the design grew from what was there. Stones, moss, and the weathered trunk of an old plum tree were reused, letting the garden's history flow into the new structure. Fine timber was hand-planed and fitted by master carpenters. A stone basin marks the threshold of purification; deep eaves frame the garden; and at dusk, lantern light gathers softly within the wood.
A quiet rite of purification
Before entering, guests pause at the tsukubai to rinse their hands and mouth — a small rite that quiets the mind and marks the passage from the everyday into the world of tea.
The tea house at dusk
As evening falls, garden lighting and a stone lantern draw the tea house out of the dark. The wooden structure seems to settle among the trees, holding the day's last quiet.
Maple leaves frame the approach
Fresh maple leaves frame the entrance and its hanging plaque. Approached along the roji path, the tea house reveals itself slowly, the garden preparing each guest for the room ahead.
Inside, the garden draws near
Within, corner windows open the room to the greenery outside, while a washi andon lamp warms the timber. Inside and garden meet, and the boundary between them gently dissolves.
©︎ WANOVA / SATOYAMA Marketing Office Ltd.
Roppongi, TOKYO