路 地(ろじ)

ろじ

noun

alley, narrow lane

1. alley, narrow lane, side street

A narrow passage or street between buildings, typically found in older urban neighborhoods. Often too narrow for cars.

路地(ろじ)を入(はい)ると小(ちい)さな居酒屋(いざかや)があった。

There was a small izakaya when I went into the alley.

この路地(ろじ)は車(くるま)が通(とお)れない。

Cars can't get through this alley.

迷路(めいろ)のような路地(ろじ)裏(うら)を歩(ある)いた。

I walked through the maze-like back alleys.

2. garden path (tea ceremony)

In the tea ceremony context, refers to the path leading to the tea house through the garden.

茶室(ちゃしつ)へと続(つづ)く路地(ろじ)を静(しず)かに歩(ある)いた。

I quietly walked along the garden path leading to the tea house.

茶道(さどう)では路地(ろじ)を通(とお)ることで日常(にちじょう)から離(はな)れ、心(こころ)を整(ととの)えると言(い)われている。

In tea ceremony, walking through the roji is said to help one leave behind daily life and compose the mind.

路地(ろじ)には飛(と)び石(いし)や石灯籠(いしどうろう)が配(はい)されていた。

The garden path had stepping stones and stone lanterns arranged along it.

RELATED TERMS:

路地裏(ろじうら) (back alley) - the area of back streets and alleys, often with a nostalgic or hidden atmosphere
横丁(よこちょう) (side street, alley) - similar meaning, often used for areas with restaurants/bars
小道(こみち) (small path)
袋小路(ふくろこうじ) (dead-end alley)

USAGE: 路地(ろじ) often evokes images of traditional Japanese neighborhoods (下町(したまち)) with narrow streets, old wooden houses, and a nostalgic atmosphere. Many famous dining areas feature 路地裏(ろじうら) restaurants hidden from main streets.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

路地(ろじ)に入(はい)る (to enter an alley)
路地(ろじ)を抜(ぬ)ける (to pass through an alley)
路地裏(ろじうら)の店(みせ) (a shop in the back alleys)

Related Words

Synonym: 小路(こうじ) (lane (in place names))

general

Added 2026.1.18 5:53 · Revised 2026.7.16 9:30

06500/06501_roji