Although Japanese rooms (tatami-matted rooms) that are installed with a built-in hearth to learn or enjoy the tea ceremony are often called Chashitsu, this section describes mainly soan-style (small grass-thatched hut) teahouses with four-and-a-half mats or less.
茶道の稽古をしたり、茶を楽しむために炉が切ってある和室（畳のある部屋）も一般に茶室と呼ばれるが、本項では主に四畳半以下の草庵風茶室について述べる。