Shofuso is far and away the most serene place to spend an afternoon in Philadelphia. The gardens are beautifully designed, and the house is an extremely interesting piece of Japanese and Philadelphian history. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the price is a steal.

Sweet little piece of japan tucked away in the park in philly. It's right next to the please touch museum so not hard to get to, cheap admission for both a quick stroll of the gardens or spending hours on the veranda. The gardens are beautiful at all times of the year and the staff are super friendly and knowledgeable about every single part of the house. I learned a lot just from one visit and think this is a great place for any age group from groups of school kids to seniors (although not handicapped accessible because it's a historic 17th century style Japanese house). For random visitors, they can tour the house, stroll the gardens and feed the koi in the large pond on the grounds. Group tours offer anyone a chance to learn about other cultures by learning about the house, with other programs from origami lessons, japanese kamishibai storytelling, and tea tasting also available. Overall its a great place to come see something totally different that you never knew existed right in a peaceful nook of the city.

Beautiful Site with educational, cultural, and aesthetic value.

A wonderful oasis of serenity in already fabulous Fairmont Park. Authentic to the last detail without being "precious" or stuffy. Sit for a while and enjoy the beautiful garden. Noone will hurry you along. Feed the super friendly Koi in the pond. Linger in the rooms of this traditional home and ask lots of questiions. Shofuso combines the familiar with the far away in ways that will make you want to visit regularly. Bring a bento box to the picnic tables at the horticultural center and make an afternoon of it. But don't forget to bring a good pair of socks. No shoes allowed in Shofuso.

Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is an oasis of serenity in otherwise frenetic Philadelphia. The gardens are beautifully maintained, the staff is knowledgeable and charismatic, and the architecture is one-of-a-kind. This is a great place for a date, to bring an out-of-town relative, or just to sit and detox.