Shofuso

Shofuso is a historic Japanese house and garden that represents the friendship between Japan and Philadelphia. Since 1958, Shofuso has been part of the Centennial District in Philadelphias West Fairmount Park, and it is listed within Philadelphias Register of Historic Places. Over 38,000 people from around the world visit Shofuso annually. The house was designed by architect Junzo Yoshimura and was built in Japan in 1953 using traditional techniques and materials. It was exhibited at the courtyard of the Museum of Modern Art in New York before moving to West Fairmount Park in 1958, the site of several previous Japanese structures dating to the 1876 Centennial Exposition. In 2007, international artist Hiroshi Senju, inspired by the gardens waterfall, donated 20 contemporary murals to Shofuso, which are permanently displayed inside the house. This historic site and museum includes a hill and pond garden with a tiered waterfall, island, and koi fish, a tea garden featuring a traditio...