The Roji Tea Garden Path (露地・茶庭 - Roji)
The serene Japanese garden path leading to a tea room, known as 'Roji' (dewy ground). Walking this stone path is a meditative transition, cleansing your mind of worldly concerns and physical dirt before entering the sacred tea sanctuary.
Refined by ancient tea masters to evoke a sense of deep mountain isolation right in the middle of busy cities. It features flat stepping stones ('Tobi-ishi') and a low stone water basin ('Tsukubai') where guests rinse their hands and mouths.
Walk slowly step-by-step only on the stepping stones, absorbing the surrounding green moss. Stoop low at the Tsukubai water basin, scoop water with the bamboo ladle, wash both hands, rinse your mouth, and approach the crawl entrance.
What is the low stone water basin along the Roji garden path used to purify hands and mouth called?