Chashitsu architecture - Cottage of Lingering Fragrance

Traveling through Japan, in gardens, temples or in public parks you can see small wooden buildings with a special architecture: these are chashitsu 「茶室」 "tea rooms", places especially designed for the tea ceremony.

One of the most beautiful chashitsu can be visited at the Kodai-ji temple from Kyoto. Called Iho-an, which can be translated as the Cottage of Lingering Fragrance, this architectural jewel features a beautiful and unusual round window and it is considered representative for the temple's tea ceremony architecture.