The Shofuso House

My husband and I went exploring in Philadelphia after dropping off our son D at a friend's house last Friday. We visited an old friend in a senior home where he now lives, and then drove around Fairmont Park (in Philly) for a while. It's on the outskirts of Philly, but still within the city limits. We found the Shofuso House! It's part of the park.

It is a beautiful place hidden away in the park! Here is some information on it:
"Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is a traditional style Japanese house and nationally ranked garden in Philadelphia's West Fairmont Park that reflects the history of Japanese culture in Philadelphia. From the 1876 Centennial Exposition to the installation of it's contemporary paintings in 2007.

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. It was moved to Philadelphia in 1958, to the site of several previous Japanese structures dating to the 1876 Centennial Exposition. In 2007, internationally renowned artist Hiroshi Senju, inspired by our waterfall, donated 20 murals to Shofuso. 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."

It was such a nice peaceful place to visit. We took off our shoes and walked around the small house with the rice paper walls and sliding doors. We wondered how they keep warm when it is cold out in Northern Japan. I decided that they must have warmer houses up north. I will have to ask my Japanese daughter in law about that when we see her in two weeks.

Here are some more pictures of our visit there.

Koi in the pond

 

 

More Koi- they were huge! Some were a foot long or more!

 

 

 Sayonara