Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in spring, Philadelphia, PA.

© Bo Shen/Shutterstock


This picturesque house, built in Nagoya in 1953 to a 17th-century design, has been set in 1.2 acres of traditional Japanese gardens in Fairmount Park since 1958. Check online for various events, including tea ceremonies, that are held here (bookings and extra payment required).

The cherry trees blooming in spring are not to be missed


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Pavilion in the Trees

0.08 MILES

Martin Puryear's functional artwork is made from three types of wood so it blends in harmoniously with the leafy surroundings. Walk along a 60ft walkway…

2. Please Touch Museum

0.23 MILES

Parents will have a lot of fun at what's definitely a kiddo goldmine: splash around learning about bubbles, race toy cars, wander through a 'wonderland'…

3. Smith Memorial Arch

0.46 MILES

Several bronze statues by 13 different artists stand on the stone plinths and columns that make up this striking 1912 memorial to Pennsylvania’s naval and…

4. Cedar Grove

0.47 MILES

One of two historic houses in Fairmount Park managed by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Cedar Grove was moved here from its original location in Frankford…

5. Fairmount Park

0.49 MILES

The snaking Schuylkill River bisects this 2050-acre green space, the largest city park in the US, splitting it into east and west sections. On either side…

6. Belmont Mansion

0.67 MILES

From the lawns surrounding the 18th-century Belmont Mansion there's a panoramic view of the city skyline. The mansion, administered by the American Women…

7. Sweetbriar Mansion

0.71 MILES

Built in 1787, this neoclassical mansion was the home of Samuel Breck, a wealthy merchant who purchased 33 acres of land along the Schuylkill. The Marquis…

8. Mount Pleasant

0.72 MILES

This 1764 mansion was described by John Adams in 1775 'as the most elegant seat in Pennsylvania.' The Georgian building is closed for general maintenance,…