SCHEDULE A GROUP TOUR
Groups will take part in a private, guided tour of the house and garden, and will have the option to include multiple add-on programs to their experience. A trained tour guide will take you through each of Shofuso’s rooms, explaining the purpose and significance of all the main features of the site. Although Japanese homes today reflect modern living, many elements of traditional Japanese houses are still found in Japanese homes today. The tour will also expand on the history of the site, and the relationship between Japan and Philadelphia going back to 1876.
Allow at least an hour for a tour, and more time depending on any add-on programs you would like to include. Guests are welcome to stay and enjoy the site after their tour.
To request a Group Tour please fill out the form below. For questions please email Mike Lewis, Program Manager, at info@japanphilly.org.
April and early May are always in high-demand, and we suggest scheduling as far in advance as possible to ensure availability during this period.
- $25 non refundable scheduling fee for all group tours
- Group Tour (1 hour, $7 per person) Required for all groups
- School groups: 1 chaperone for free, additional chaperones $7/person
- Tea Tasting (1 hour, $15 per person)
- Kamishibai Storytelling (30 minutes, $5 per person)
- Origami Session (30 minutes, $7 per person) Available Starting March, 2025
- Koi Fish Feeding (15 minutes, $1 per person)
- Early Start Time of 10am ($100 per group) Requires 3 week advanced notice
Tea Tasting
(1 hour, $15 per person)
A trained guide will explain the history, culture, and art of Chadō, or the way of tea, known in the US as Tea Ceremony. Visitors will learn about Japanese tea culture and get a chance to make and drink their own bowl of tea. **Tea Tastings are typically held on the floor inside the house. If you have guests in your group who cannot sit on the floor please let us know so that we can accommodate them
Kamishibai Storytelling
(30 minutes, $5 per person)
Kamishibai is a traditional Japanese form of storytelling made popular in the early 20th century. Men on bicycles would travel from town to town, selling candy and telling stories using colorful pictures showcased inside of a wooden frame. You can see Kamishibai in action by following this link. This program is geared towards elementary school aged children
Origami Session
(30 minutes, $7 per person) Available Starting March, 2025
A trained guide will show you how to fold certain origami patterns while guests can enjoy the view from inside our 15 mat room. Each group will get around 30 minutes to fold, and depending on age and skill level will cover 1-3 different patterns.
Koi Fish Feeding
(15 minutes, $1 per person)
Guests will each receive one cup of koi fish food which they can use to feed the koi fish in our pond. The timing of this program varies widely, but typically takes around 15 minutes. This program is popular with all ages. - All guests must remove their shoes before entering the house. Bare feet are not permitted.
- Please note that the temperature inside the house is the same as outside, so please wear thick socks during cooler temperatures!
- Shoes must be worn in the garden to keep socks clean
- Because Shofuso reflects conditions of seventeenth-century Japan, it is not accessible to wheelchairs or scooters. Shofuso is not easily accessible to users of walkers, canes, or prosthetics, and such devices may require a soft protective covering to preserve our historic flooring.
- Late arrivals will be permitted dependent upon the schedule. If you know your group will be late, please call and inform the staff as soon as possible, and every effort will be made to accommodate late arrivals. Please note the next scheduled tour will be given priority.
- Portable toilets are located at the site and a public restroom is available nearby at the Horticulture Center.
- 48-hour notice of cancellations are required for partial refunds.
Your donation helps to support Japanese arts, business, and cultural programs in Philadelphia including the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, lectures and workshops, preservation of Shofuso, and much more.
