1.
tea house (traditional)
A traditional Japanese establishment serving tea and light refreshments, often found at scenic spots, temples, or along historic roads.
2.
geisha house
In the geisha districts, a tea house that arranges geisha entertainment and serves as a venue for banquets.
Cultural note
In sense 1, an お茶屋 is a rest stop at a temple, garden, or old highway, serving tea and Japanese sweets. In sense 2, in the geisha districts (花街) such as Kyoto's 祇園, it is a house where guests hold banquets entertained by 芸妓 and 舞妓; the geisha themselves live at an 置屋. Such houses traditionally refuse first-time guests without an introduction (一見さんお断り).
Common collocations
- お茶屋遊び: an evening of geisha entertainment at a tea house
Watch out
In everyday speech お茶屋さん is also a shop that sells tea leaves.
Related Words
Related:
置屋 (geisha house)