SHOFUSO JAPANESE HOUSE & GARDEN, HOUSE

Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is a traditional-style 17th century Japanese style house located in the Fairmount Park area of Philadelphia PA. Shofuso was built in Japan in 1953 using traditional techniques and materials and exhibited in the courtyard at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 2007, internationally renowned artist Hiroshi Senju, inspired by our waterfall, donated 20 murals to Shofuso that are on permanent display at the house. A viewing garden with koi pond and island, a tea garden, and a courtyard garden comprise the 17th century-style Japanese walled and fenced garden of this historic site and museum. The house features shoji, tatami flooring and a classic shoin desk in its main, 15 mat room. The house itself is roofed in hinoki bark, and is the only roof of its kind outside of Japan. A magnificent wrap around, two tier hinoki veranda hosts quaint wabi-sabi repairs made by the skilled japanese carpenters who maintain the house.The guest house is accompanied by an authentic sukiya tea house that is fully functional. The house and site is typical of Samurai level living in 17th century Japan, and remains a treasure of the city of Philadelphia.