Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, Japanese garden and museum in West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, United States
Shofuso is a traditional Japanese house featuring sliding doors and tatami mats, surrounded by a garden with a koi pond and waterfall. The structure demonstrates classic Japanese residential design and landscape principles in a Western setting.
The house was built in Japan in 1953 and initially displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It found its permanent home in Philadelphia's park in 1958.
The interior displays contemporary murals by Japanese artist Hiroshi Senju, depicting waterfalls using traditional Nihonga painting techniques and natural pigments. These artworks bring a modern artistic layer to the traditional house structure.
Visitors enjoy the experience most on mild days and should wear comfortable shoes since footwear is removed to enter the interior spaces. Checking ahead is helpful since seasonal schedules affect when it is open to the public.
The garden incorporates stones from a Japanese temple, arranged by Tansai Sano, whose family maintained Ryoan-ji temple's garden across six generations. These stones connect the Philadelphia site to authentic Japanese garden craft and family tradition.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
