There’s the hill and pond garden

Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is a hidden gem of Philadelphia

moncler jacket sale Tucked away in Philadelphia’s West Fairmount Park is a 17th century style Japanese home and garden. Its sloped and cheap moncler outlet curved roof rises above the nearby cherry trees, the building itself slightly obscured by a white exterior wall. Passing cheap moncler coats through its gates, its full grandeur is revealed. moncler jacket sale

moncler outlet sale Shofuso Japanese House and Garden transports its visitors to a different time and place with its beauty, making it one of the city’s buy moncler jackets treasures. moncler outlet sale

Shofuso, which means “Pine Breeze Villa,” was actually constructed in 1953 although you wouldn’t guess that by looking at it. It was designed by Junzo Yoshimura for an exhibit at monlcer down jackets the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Crafted using traditional materials and techniques, it showcases Japanese architecture in its main structure, the tea room and its bath house.

Take a virtual tour of Shofuso in this photo gallery

moncler outlet uk The home came to Philadelphia in 1958, accompanied by a garden designed by Tansai Sano. The garden is really a series moncler outlet of gardens. There’s the hill and pond garden, meant to symbolize the geography of Japan. It thus includes hills, bridges, islands and ponds. moncler outlet uk

moncler sale outlet “It’s not miniaturized, but it represents all the features you’d see in Japan,” explained Kim Andrews, executive director of Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, which is administered by the nonprofit group, the Japan American Society of Greater Philadelphia. moncler sale outlet

cheap moncler jackets sale It’s in this garden that cheap moncler jackets you’ll find the koi, giant colorful fish you can feed. Each koi has its own personality, but they all love food and will come over when guests stop by, eager for a snack. cheap moncler jackets sale

cheap moncler coats There’s also a giant weeping cherry tree, that when it is in bloom provides a splash of pink. cheap moncler coats

moncler outlet online The moncler sale outlet garden is a star of the villa itself too, which is an example of indoor/outdoor living thanks to its giant sliding doors. moncler outlet online

moncler outlet jackets “A garden like this would be viewed from inside the house or out on the veranda so people would look at it like a living painting,” Andrews said. moncler outlet jackets

moncler outlet Facing away from the garden is another painting, one of a more static variety. There are twenty murals by Japanese artist Hiroshi Senju in the villa. They cover the sliding paper doors of the house, each showcasing waterfalls. moncler outlet

Back outside, wandering around the house you’ll find the second garden. It is a tea garden, consisting of a winding path Cheap Moncler to the cheap moncler villa’s tea house. Every aspect of the garden is purposeful, playing its own part in the tea ceremony.

cheap moncler outlet “It’s very natural, very shady, very quiet, so you’re leaving the outside world behind as you’re proceeding to the tea house,” Andrews said. cheap moncler outlet

The tea house itself moncler sale is a simple structure, the only adornment being a piece of art with calligraphy meaning “Elegant Beauty.” It comes alive, however, every month during Shofuso’s tea demonstrations, which are mostly conducted by the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Philadelphia moncler outlet online Association.

moncler outlet store The third garden is a courtyard garden, nestled between structures. It’s a more urban garden, with rain chains. The courtyard garden also leads into the bath house, which includes a squatting toilet (for display purposes only, there are porta potties for guests to use available on the grounds) and soaking tub. moncler outlet store

moncler jackets outlet The lack of 21st century bathroom facilities fits in with the villa, which has limited electricity. moncler jackets outlet

“This is a 17th century style structure cheap moncler sale so we’ve maintained those conditions,” Andrews explained. “We want to maintain its authenticity.”

To that end, the house is not heated. Instead, it gets its warmth from the sun. There are few lights, so when the sun sets darkness descends and the lighting and moncler mens jackets shadows in the house itself changes accordingly.

cheap moncler “You get a sense when you’re inside the house in particular how the seasons and the time of day change what you’re experiences of the architecture,” Andrews said. “It gives moncler outlet sale you a good sense of what Japanese architecture and aesthetics are holding on to. cheap moncler

moncler factory outlet “The architecture is part of nature and we feel that here.” moncler factory outlet

cheap moncler jackets Shofuso is open to public tours Wednesday through Sundays from April through October. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for seniors, students and children. However, it’s free to visit on Sakura Sunday, the culminating event of the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia. cheap moncler jackets

The cherry blossom festival is April 7 15. Throughout the city there will be events ranging from sushi making classes to film screenings to taiko drum and dance performances.

moncler sale But the highlight is Sakura Sunday on April 15, which takes place at the Horticulture moncler outlet store Center at Fairmount Park. This giant festival includes musical performances, harajuku fashion shows, tours of Shofuso, martial art demonstrations, crafts, Japanese food and, of course, lots of chances https://www.newmoncleroutlet.com to see the cherry blossoms. The festival is $15 for adults and free for children 12 and under. moncler sale

You don’t have to wait until Sakura Sunday to participate in events at Shofuso. While it’s open, Shofuso regularly hosts tea ceremonies, taiko classes and kabuki dance demonstrations. We think you’d especially enjoy this look inside the formerly abandoned Divine Lorraine Hotel or checking out this cutting edge lab in the heart of University City.


Leave a Reply