Japanese House and Garden - Philadelphia, PA - Japanese Gardens on Waymarking.com

From their website:

This shoin-zukuri (desk-centered) house, built in 16th century style, is located on the grounds of the Horticultural Center in the West Philadelphia section of Fairmount Park. The perfectly proportioned architecture of the main structure and adjoining tea house is enhanced by an ornamental garden and picturesque pond.

The Japanese House, as it is informally known to Philadelphians, is in a style which would have been appropriate for an educated member of the upper class, such as a government official, high-ranking priest, or wealthy scholar. The extensive use of natural materials creates a serene harmony between the house and surrounding garden.

Short History of Shofuso

The ground on which the Japanese House now stands has had a Japanese structure and landscaping almost continuously since the 1876 Centennial Exposition, when the Japanese Bazaar and garden were in the area.

From 1905 until a fire in 1955, the site was occupied by a gate from a Japanese Buddhist temple, built in the early seventeenth century. This gate had been brought to the United States for the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exhibition in St. Louis.

The Japanese House was designed by Yoshimura Junzoo, built in 1953 in Nagoya, and presented by the America-Japan Society of Tokyo to the Museum of Modern Art New York for exhibition in 1954-55. It was given to the City of Philadelphia and reassembled at the current site in 1958, with a garden designed by Sano Tansai.

The house and garden underwent extensive repairs, as a gift from the Japanese government and people in honor of the U.S. Bicentennial, in 1976. In 1982 the Friends of the Japanese House and Garden organized to preserve this unique facility. In the same year, a grant from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society made it possible to begin rejuvenation of the garden. Repairs and renovations continue to be undertaken by the Friends on a regular basis.

Name: Japanese House and Garden Location (specific park it is located within): Fairmount Park City: Philadelphia Fees: yes Garden Website: http://www.shofuso.com/ Designer: Not listed Date of Creation: Not listed Parking Coordinates: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
To help give a different perspective and to better the waymark for future visitors please tell us about your visit and upload a favorite photograph you took while visiting the garden. Although visiting this waymark in person is the only thing required of you to receive credit for your visit, taking the time to add this information is greatly appreciated.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   10/19/2008 ODragon visited it

View all visits/logs