Just inside the sanmon gate is the Chajo, literally “a place for tea.” The building was used as a communal rest area by the lay people who take care of the temple grounds. The style of the building is similar to the other buildings of Senjuji, with a large, curved gable over the entrance to the building. Through the arched entrance is a large butsudan altar and worship area. The interior of the Chajo was refurbished in 2018 and contains a spacious area with both tables and chairs and low tables for sitting directly on the tatami mats. The public is encouraged to use this space.

The opposite side of the building was the tea preparation area and contains the original tea hearth with two enormous built-in kettles. One of the kettles is inscribed with the year 1760. Both the hearth and the entire building are thought to have been built in that year. Tea was made in the large kettles and served to people attending religious services at Senjuji until the 1970s.