A Visit to Shofuso Japanese House and Gardens

Last week, I took a day off from getting for my show Tulipmania to visit the Shofuso Japanese House and Gardens in Philadelphia’s West Fairmount Park.  Shofuso has been listed as one of the top Japanese gardens in the United States. It was very peaceful the morning I visited, I’ll definitely head back there again when I’m in Philadelphia.

Shofuso House and Gardens has a fascinating history. The house was built in Japan in 1953 when is was exhibited at Museum of Modern Art in New York. After the exhibition in New York, the house was moved to it’s current location in Philadelphia’s West Fairmount Park. The site has been the home to Japanese buildings and landscaping dating back to the 1876 Centennial Exposition. For many years, it was the home of a Japanese Buddhist Temple Gate brought to the United States for the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exhibition. The gardens currently occupy 1.2 acres, complete with hills, a koi pond, the house and a tea house.

Here are a few of my photos from my visit to Shofuso House and Gardens

At the Koi Pond

 

 

 

 

Dogwood Reflections

 

Japanese Umbrella in Shofuso House

Kimono at Shofuso Japanese House

Waterfall Painting by Hiroshi Senju. One of several waterfall paintings by the artist on screens in Shofuso House

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing some of my photos from Shofuso Japanese House and Gardens. I’m looking forward to visiting again – perhaps in the fall when the change color.