Shofuso Japanese House and Garden

Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is a historic house and garden located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A privately held nonprofit organization, Shofuso is administered by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia. The organization employs 14 people and generates an annual revenue of $2.5 million. Shofuso serves as a museum showcasing Japanese culture and art. Its exhibits include a historic Japanese house, originally built in 1953 in Japan, and a meticulously designed garden featuring traditional elements such as a tiered waterfall, island, and koi fish pond. In addition to the permanent collections, Shofuso hosts various cultural programming, including tea ceremony demonstrations by the Urasenke Tea School of Philadelphia and Princeton Omotesenke, and performances by the IchiFuji-kai Dance Association and Kyo Daiko, Philadelphia's community taiko troupe. A unique aspect of Shofuso is its collection of 20 contemporary murals donated by international artist Hiroshi Senju in 2007. These murals, inspired by the garden’s waterfall, are permanently displayed within the historic house. Educational programming, including youth and adult workshops as well as summer day camp sessions, is also offered throughout the year. For more information or to plan a visit, please contact Shofuso Japanese House and Garden at japanesehouse.org.