Ochaya

In Japan, an is an establishment where patrons are entertained by geisha.
In the Edo period, chaya could refer to establishments serving tea and drinks, offering rooms for rent by the hour, or brothels. However, in the modern day, refers exclusively to the establishments within Kyoto in which geisha work and entertain their clients, though the term is sometimes used to describe all establishments used by geisha to entertain guests, irrespective of location.
Equivalent establishments in locations outside of Kyoto are known as, meaning "restaurant", referring to a traditional Japanese-style restaurant where geisha may entertain.

Terminology

Though the term literally means "tea house", the term follows the naming conventions of buildings or rooms used for Japanese tea ceremony, known as ; as such, though tea is served at as an ordinary beverage, it is not, unlike teahouses and tearooms found throughout the world, its sole purpose.
When used as part of a name, the honorific prefix is not used in Japanese, and the plain is used as a suffix, as in "Ichiriki Chaya". In English, this is not always observed, and terminology such as "Ichiriki Ochaya" is sometimes used. are often referred to instead simply by their name, as in " Ichiriki".

Access

are typically very exclusive establishments; with very rare exceptions, a person may only enter if they are already an established patron, or are accompanied by a patron, with reservations.
Relationships to can often be traced back generations, and are generally associated with a family or company. Switching is not generally possible, and even patronizing other than the one with which one is associated is considered a very serious breach of manners.
In exceptional circumstances, these restrictions are relaxed. For example, for a brief period of only a few nights in 2006, one in each of the five Kyoto geisha districts offered general access to a small number of tourists who were unaccompanied by patrons, as part of a tourism promotion program, at the request of the Kyoto City Tourist Association.

Identification

cater to a discreet clientele, and thus do not present a particularly conspicuous front, but nor are they particularly secretive as to their location. are generally located on or near the main streets of their geisha district, and will generally have the name at the entrance, with an entrance curtain and front garden in larger houses, which can be glimpsed from the street. In Kyoto, are licensed by the city, and all display a metal badge at the entrance reading "「京公許第〜号」「お茶屋」".

Design

As traditional establishments, occupy buildings exemplifying traditional Japanese architecture, most often town house style construction, particularly in Kyoto. Interiors will typically be tatami rooms, while exteriors may feature sheer walls or wooden lattices.

Services

The main function of an is to provide a private space for entertainment by geisha. Geisha are not affiliated with a particular teahouse, but are instead hired from the geisha house they are affiliated with by the proprietress of the to provide entertainment, consisting of conversation, flirtation, pouring drinks, traditional games, singing, musical instruments, and dancing. typically do not prepare food, but customers can order catering a la carte, which is delivered to the house; geisha districts typically have a variety of restaurants serving this trade.

Examples

The most notable and famous is the Ichiriki Chaya in the Gion district of Kyoto, considered one of the most exclusive in Japan. The Ichiriki features as a major setting in Arthur Golden's fictional portrayal of a Gion geisha's life, ''Memoirs of a Geisha.''