What to Expect at the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Philadelphia
Can’t make it to Japan? Check out the very serene Shofuso Japanese House and Garden right near Philly in Fairmount Park!
Visiting Shofuso has to be one of the most underrated things to do in Philadelphia. Understandably, you don’t exactly think “city where America was born” and think of a Japanese garden. But! If you have some time or want a relaxing afternoon, I highly recommend booking a ticket here.
My friend and I went one very warm October day hoping to find some fall foliage, and I fell in love with this little gem. While we were too early for foliage, I find that Shofuso is so pretty it really doesn’t matter what time of year you go. We pretty much spent the afternoon chatting and catching up on one of the engawa (porches) and then roaming about the house and getting more of an insight into what life would’ve been like in one of these traditional homes.
Read below for my guide to all things Shofuso!
Quick Philly Travel Tips
- Getting in: For those that fly in, Philly Airport (PHL) is the easiest. It’s a short SEPTA or Uber/Lyft ride in. If you’re look for cheaper flights, though, also check Newark Airport (EWR). It’s about 90 mins away, and you can take an Amtrak train into 30th Street Station.
- Where to Stay: For general sightseeing, stay downtown. However if you want somewhere quieter and to be closer to Shofuso, I enjoyed the Maj Hotel right by the art museum.
- Getting Around: If you’re here for a short time, the best way to get around is on foot or by car. There are the SEPTA buses and subway as well as Indego bikes but you’re best off with just walking.
- Safety: Philly gets a rap for being unsafe, but you should generally be okay. If you park on the street, don’t leave ANYTHING visible in your car – not even a crumbled up napkin on the floor. If you’re out at night, just get a ride back to your hotel. Walking is usually fine but it tends to be after dark that things can go awry.
How the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden Came to Philly
Despite its looks, Shofuso is only a little over half a century old. It was designed by Junzo Yoshimura in Nagoya, Japan for an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art called “The House in the Museum Garden.” It was there to showcase one of the influences on mid-century modern architecture.
Yoshimura was inspired by the guest house of Kojo-in Temple in Nerima, Japan. The guesthouse was created in the Shoin-zukuri style, which was a popular residential design from the early Edo period and heavily influenced by Zen Buddhism.
Anyway, Shofuso made its way to NYC in 1954 and opened to the public by the summer. When the exhibit ended, no one was sure where to put it next. As luck would have it, tragedy struck Philly that same year creating an open spot in Fairmount Park.
A long time mainstay in Fairmount, the Nio-Mon Temple Gate, was completely destroyed in a fire on May 6th. This gate was from the 1600s and brought to the US for the 1904 World Fair. From there, it was purchased for the park and had stood surrounded by a Japanese garden funded by John T. Morris for fifty years. As you can imagine, it was probably quite the loss!
Luckily, the powers that be decided to replace the temple gate with Shofuso. It was moved and reconstructed between 1957 and 1958. Landscape designer Tansai Sano redid the garden to better match the new house, and Philadelphians could enjoy the the home and gardens from 1958 onwards.
If you really, really want to dig into Shofuso’s history, they have a 30+ page essay narrating every last detail here.
What to Expect at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden
Over all, Shofuso is very small. If you were in a rush, you could easily walk around and through the home in a matter of 15 minutes or less. However, if you did this you’d be missing out on the very point of visiting a Japanese garden!
Come to relax.
I recommend doing a little tour of the house either on your own or with one of the tour guides wandering around. There are little plaques that will give you more insight to Japanese culture and life at home. Afterwards, lounge on one of the engawa sections and just enjoy your view.
Shofuso House
Most of Shofuso is made with hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood. The stones you see around the garden are specifically from Taka Mountain near Nagoya. They were detailed, making sure to wrap each stone carefully enough to preserve the natural moss on the rocks! If you’re lucky, you may see one of the workers show you how cleaning the drainage works (it’s a lot prettier than what you’re thinking).
The house even includes a bathhouse section which has a “toilet” on one side and a bathtub on the other. Funnily enough I remembered to photography the toilet but not the tub!
One of my favorite rooms was the kitchen. It just has lots of cool little details in one spot like the cooking area, the shelves full of bits and bobs, and the one side with the baskets all on top.
In one of the halls you’ll even see a little replica of a typical Japanese meal with some rice, what I think is some sort of seaweed soup, and fish.
Notice the flooring in most of these pics? That’s tatami flooring. These are woven mats fitted together to cover the floors. Apparently back when the house was on display in NYC, you could walk across them (minus your shoes, of course). However, in order to help preserve them, they block off the main rooms so you can only view from afar.
You’ll also notice in some rooms are these beautiful waterfall murals. They were created and donated by artist Hiroshi Senju in 2007. On the ground is a koto, the national instrument of Japan.
Shofuso Garden
The garden at Shofuso really is gorgeous. Like I said above, it was designed by Tansai Sano who also did the original design for its display at MoMa. Sano comes from a family who’d taken care of the famous Ryoan-ji temple in Kyoto for six generations.
When he helped redesign it in Philly, he added a waterfall and different planting scheme. Today it’s considered one of the best Japanese gardens in North America.
Shofuso Tea Ceremony
If you want, you can time your visit to coincide with a tea ceremony demonstration. Just be sure to register as well. Japanese tea ceremonies, or chanoyu or chado, have been practiced for centuries and are much more than just pouring some tea and drinking it! Check their program calendar for upcoming tea ceremony demonstrations as well as any of Japan America Society’s events.
Tips for Visiting Shofuso Japanese House and Garden
Info You Need
- Address: Lansdowne Dr &, Horticultural Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19131
- Location: In West Fairmount Park
- Phone: 215-878-5097
Don’t Forget
Shoes and bare feet are not allowed in the house. Bring socks to wear inside. You will, however, need your shoes to be in the garden.
When to Visit
Shofuso is really only open for spring, summer, and autumn. Spring will be beautiful with the cherry blossom trees, but the house and garden are lovely in any of the three seasons.
Don’t forget your mask – you need it for inside the house! Also it’s helpful to have some socks as you’ll take your shoes off and either need your own socks or they have disposable socks there.
2024: Shofuso will open back up March 20th
Hours
- Mar – Oct: Wed – Sunday, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Nov – Dec: Sat & Sun: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tickets
- $14: Adults
- $9: Senior citizens, ages 5-17, students, college students (bring college ID), teachers
- $2: SNAP EBT Cardholders and ACCESS Cardholders (bring photo ID)
- Free: JASGP Members, under 5, active military plus up to 5 family members, veterans, Philadelphia High School students, museum workers
If you live in Philly, know you want to visit frequently or just want to support, Japan America Society has a lot of membership options.
Parking
There’s plenty of parking right next to Shofuso, and it’s free.
Accessibility
Due to the nature of the house, it’s not accessible for wheelchair or scooter. Walkers, canes, and prosthetics are allowed but just need to have rubber tips covered in something soft to protect the flooring.
And that’s all I have on visiting this gem within Philly’s Fairmount Park! Have you been? What did you think?
For more travel nearby:
- How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Philly
- Pennsylvania Bucket List: 97 Places to Visit
- Where to Stay in New York City for First Time Visitors
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