are the tools and utensils used in , the Japanese way of tea.

Tea utensils can be divided into five major categories:

Genshoku Chadō Daijiten (Japanese encyclopedia of the Way of Tea), entry "chadōgu".

A wide range of utensils, known collectively as , is necessary for even the most basic tea ceremony. Generally, items which guests prepare themselves with for attending a gathering are not considered ; rather, the term fundamentally applies to items involved to "host" a gathering. This article, however, includes all forms of implements and paraphernalia involved in the practice of .

High-end utensils are cherished, well preserved and documented and serve as historical artifacts. The honorary title is given to the ten artisans that provide the utensils for the events held by the three primary Schools of Japanese tea known as the .

Utensils used for are different, using a usually five-piece set of small cups, a small pot and a small cup to pour hot water. These utensils are typically ceramic.

Boxes In Japan, cherished items are customarily stored in purpose-made wooden boxes. Valuable items for tea ceremony are usually stored in such a box, and in some cases, if the item has a long and distinguished history, several layers of boxes: an inner storage box (), middle storage box (), and outer storage box ().

The storage boxes for tea implements are not tea equipment in themselves, but still hold importance in the practice of , as the boxes used for particularly old and distinguished objects often feature inscriptions which serve to validate their history and provenance.

are special lidded boxes containing the tea bowl, tea caddy, tea scoop and other equipment. They constitute portable tea-making sets for travel and making tea outdoors, and are available in many styles.

The " model", made of plain paulownia wood, comes in a large size and a small size. The interior dimensions of the large version are slightly smaller than in length, in width, and in height. -model also feature an internal shelf.

Originally, there were no rules for the tea-making procedure (). However, the 11th-generation head of the Urasenke school of tea created certain types of procedures.Genshoku Chadō Daijiten Japanese encyclopedia of the Way of Tea. Tankōsha, 1975; 10th edition, 1986. For the procedures, the box is carried into the place where the tea is to be made, sometimes on a tray, and the ceremony proceeds with each item being removed from, and finally returned to, the box.

Tea boxes are made of wood, and may be lacquered and decorated, or left untreated. There are similar portable tea-making sets called , in which case the box is formed through basket weaving.

Charcoal-related items Ash Ash, known as ,Chanoyu Quarterly no. 82, containing a comprehensive coverage of chanoyu ash appears most commonly in in the portable brazier (), the sunken hearth () which may be used in a tea room in the cold season, and the container for the lighter fire in the smoking set ().

In tea ceremony, ash serves as a protective bed for the charcoal fire. Great care is given to the quality and appearance of the ash, and there are different kinds of ash for different purposes. They include the following:

– used as to decorate the sculpted ash in a brazier. It is a beautiful, smooth white ash produced by burning wisteria bean pods. – a dry ash specially prepared to have a smooth texture free from visible impurities. This is the main kind of ash used in portable braziers. – produced by burning the shells of water caltrops. It is a smooth reddish-brown ash mainly used in the container for the lighter fire in the smoking set. – the slightly damp ash used in the sunken hearth. – sticks of roasted straw. The black is neatly arranged on top of the ash in the brazier. This is reserved for the final days of the brazier season and the use, at that time, of a worn-looking metal brazier (). is also used in hand warmers () and .

Ash container is a shallow bowl used by the host to carry the ash into the tea room for the charcoal-laying procedure (). It carries the "sprinkling ash" () for the procedure in the case of a portable brazier (), and the "moist ash" () for the procedure in the case of a sunken hearth (). The styles for these are different.

Ash spoon The is a spatula-like implement mainly used to shape the ash in the portable brazier (), or to sprinkle ash during the charcoal-laying procedure.

Charcoal Article "Sumi and How It is Made," in Chanoyu Quarterly no. 45 (1986) refers to the charcoal used in . for the most part is made of chestnut-leaved oak (), carbonized by long hours of smoldering in a kiln. The long pieces of finished charcoal are cut into specific lengths for use; the lengths differing depending upon whether the charcoal will be used in a brazier or sunken hearth.

In addition, a unique kind of charcoal called is used in for its artistic effect. It is produced by charring twigs of azalea, camellia, or some variety of oak, and then coating them with a lime substance made of powdered seashells.

Charcoal container The is the container in which the host places the charcoal and charcoal-laying implements for transporting them to and from the tea room for the charcoal-laying procedure. Many are made of basketry.

Charcoal carrier

is a charcoal container used in the preparation room, and not considered a formal piece of equipment. It is brought into the tea room if the charcoal in the portable brazier or sunken hearth requires replenishing. It is box-shaped, has a handle, and is made of wood—usually mulberry wood.

Charcoal starter Feather brooms is a feather broom with a number of styles. The kind composed of three layered feathers and referred to therefore as is used to dust off the portable brazier or sunken hearth during the charcoal-laying procedure. It is part of the set of equipment carried into the tea room with the charcoal container (). Other kinds of feather brooms are used for sweeping the tea room.

are metal chopsticks used to handle charcoal.

Incense container

is a small lidded container for the incense that is added to the charcoal fire during the charcoal-laying procedure. For the kneaded incense () that is used in a sunken hearth (), the container is generally made of ceramic. For the chips of incense wood () used in a portable brazier (), it is generally made of lacquer ware or plain wood. There are also incense containers made of clam shells.

Cloth items

A is a small rectangular white linen or hemp cloth mainly used to wipe the tea bowl. There are two main sizes: large and small. Usually the plain term is used in reference to the small size, which is approximately long and wide. The raw edges on the lengthwise sides have a narrow rolled hem finished with overlock stitching. These two hems face opposite sides of the cloth.

A is, like a , a double layer patterned silk cloth approximately square, with a fold on one edge and the other three edges sewn together so the stitching is invisible. It is used by Omotesenke practitioners in the same way as the : the host and the guests each carry one, which is kept in the breast of the kimono. It is sometimes used by guests to protect the tea implements whilst examining them, and the host will put one out with the tea bowl when serving thick tea.

A is a double layer silk cloth approximately square, with a fold on one edge and the other three edges sewn together so the stitching is invisible. It is used for the symbolic cleansing of the tea scoop and tea caddy, and (usually by women) to handle hot kettle or pot lids. The host and assistants at a tea gathering wear the tucked into the .

By tradition, the host of a formal tea ceremony uses a new, previously unused . are most often monochromatic and unpatterned, but variations exist. There are different colours for men (usually purple) and women (orange or red), for people of different ages or skill levels, for different ceremonies and for different schools. The size and way of making was purportedly established by Sen Sōon, Sen no Rikyū's second wife.

are rectangular wallets in many cases shaped like a traditional envelope, with a flap that closes the wallet. They are used to carry personal items needed to participate in tea ceremony or tea practice, such as paper, a pick for cutting and eating sweets, a , a , and a fan. There are two sizes of corresponding to the two sizes of paper: a smaller one for women, and a larger one for men. Men's are generally less ornate and brightly coloured than women's, but this is not always the case.

A is a cloth approximately square, which, unlike a , is generally made of a rich, thick, brocade fabric with a woven pattern. Its construction is similar to that of a . In the Urasenke school, both the host and guests each carry one. If wearing kimono, it is kept in the breast of the kimono. Guests not wearing kimono might carry it in their . The is sometimes used by guests to protect the tea implements whilst examining them. Depending on the circumstances, the host may put one out with the tea.

refers to a variety of bags used for storing and other tea implements. They are traditionally made from silk, and are often patterned or brocaded. Extremely precious implements were often held in bags made brocade. are secured with a silk cord, which is tied in prescribed ways.

Furniture

The is the original portable shelf unit used in the Japanese tea ceremony. The most orthodox style is the formal , finished in highly polished black lacquer. The lower board rests on the tatami, and there are four posts at the corners of this, supporting a shelf. The width of this unit, from side to side, is equal to the width of a (Kyoto-size) tatami.

A is a wooden board, usually lacquered, on which the main tea implements may be displayed in the tea room. The size derives from the size of the lower board of a .

is the term for the various kinds of boards on which the portable brazier () may be arranged in the tea room. They are classified by shape as large, half-size, small, or round. They are wooden, and may be finished with lacquer and/or decorated in various other manners. There are rules for what kind of board to use with what kind of brazier.

, literally "shelf/shelves," is a generic term for various types of shelving used in the tea ceremonies and placed on the host's mat. Each type of has its own name. The three basic categories are built-in (), suspended (), and portable shelves (). The latter, , are basically categorized as either large shelf units () or small shelf units ().

are made of various types of wood, the most formal style finished in highly polished black lacquer. Some include drawers or shelves enclosed by sliding doors. Tea utensils may be placed onto/into the before the start of a ceremony and/or at the end. are used only tea rooms of 4.5 tatami mats or larger.

Hearths

are relatively small portable braziers used to heat the kind of iron hot-water kettle called , which has a spout and handle across the top.

are portable braziers used in the tea room to heat the hot water kettle () to make the tea. They are commonly made of ceramic or metal, although there are rare examples of wooden as well.

are fire pits built into the floor of tea rooms and used in the cold season, for heating the hot water kettle () to make the tea. The frame that fits around it at the top is called , and usually is of lacquered wood. In the season when the is not in use, the frame is removed and the is covered with one of the tatami mats that form the surface of the floor, and is not visible.

An is a portable that is set on the floor and is used in circumstances when the room does not have a that can be used.

-related items or A or is a kettle resembling a teapot used for warming and serving . They are made of iron, tin or pottery.