1. It is small. Most ROJI are quite small, being about 200-300m^2 (60-90 tsubo)at most, and there are rarely any exceeding 1000m^2. At temples and such where there is a chashitsu in one corner of a large garden, the portion there will be fenced off and made into the ROJI for the chashitsu.
2. Low shrubbery and nonflowering trees are planted. Trees that are too tall shut out the sunlight and therefore are not preferred. Flowers are displayed inside the chashitsu, and in order for those to be given the highlight, flowing plants are avoided in the ROJI. Also, in humid regions such as KYOTO, many varieties of moss grow on the ground, which makes for a beautiful scene.
3. A place for the guests to meet. A small structure called machiai(waiting place) is built in the ROJI. The invited guests wait here for everyone in the invited party to assemble. After a while, the host comes for them and they follow his directions and proceed to the chashitsu.
4. A path leading into an extraordinary, non-worldly space. A chashitsu is a space removed from ordinary daily life, and the ROJI considered as a path leading to it. Therefore, daily wordly items such as abacuses in the old days and cellular phone in present times are to be left outside and not brought in, and also, one should not enter wearing regular daily attire. Before entering the ROJI, such items should be deposited somewhere appropriate, and one should change into appropriate clothing. Then, in the ROJI, the guests ready themselves mentally for entering the non- worldly space of the chashitsu.
5. A place to purify the body. At the tsukubai(low stone water-basin) set near the entrance way to the chashitsu, the guests rinse their hands and mouth, and thereby purify themselves physically. This is not for sanitation, to wash away germs, but is a symbolic act.
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