School Tour Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is a replica of a 17th century upper-class residential house. Shofuso contains all the elements of a traditional house, regardless of economic status: tatami mats, shoji screens, and hibachi heaters. New in 2007 are 20 murals created by the revered contemporary Japanese artist, Hiroshi Senju. These murals appear on the fusuma (interior sliding doors) throughout the house and the tokonoma wall. In front of the house is a garden with many traditional Japanese plants and koi fish. There is also an excellent example of a teahouse where a tea master would perform the tea ceremony. To make your visit to the Japanese House and Garden more enjoyable, please take note of the following: - In keeping with Japanese custom, visitors must remove their shoes before entering the House and leave the shoes at the entrance. Shoes must not be worn on the veranda. All members of your group must wear or bring socks. Bare feet are not permitted. However, shoes must be worn in the garden. - The site is not wheelchair accessible. Canes, crutches and walkers must have rubber tips to protect the floor and the dirt removed before entering. - Late arrival will be permitted only if the schedule allows. 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. - There are no restrooms at the site. A portable toilet is located in the parking lot and a public restroom is available at the Horticulture Center. - Groups will be able to visit our gift shop, which includes many unique Japanese items including chopsticks, origami paper, books and toys.  TIMEThe Japanese House and Garden is open for group tours April 1- October 31, 2008. It is possible to make special arrangements for tours on Monday. Allow 45- 60 minutes for this tour, depending on the age group. CAPACITY The house can accommodate up to 80 people at one time. Large groups are divided into smaller ones and participate in guided tours simultaneously through the house. FEES Fees are $3.00 per person. For school tours, one adult chaperone for every 10 children is admitted free. Additional chaperones are charged $3.00 per person. The group admission fee is due 30 days prior to your tour. If you are making tour arrangements less than 30 days in advance, admission fees should be paid at the time of the reservation. A non-refundable $15.00 processing fee is required to reserve your tour and should accompany your registration form (see below). This fee is separate from the admission charge. The processing fee is due 7 days after calling to book your reservation. It may be paid by check or credit card. Please make checks payable to Friends of the Japanese House and Garden. REFUNDS Refunds of 50% will be made for tours that cancel with at least one-week advance notice. Tours may be rescheduled based on availability. INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES The Japanese House and Garden offers hands-on programs in addition to the guided tour for school students for additional fees. 1) Storytelling From the 1920’s - 1950’s, before the advent of TV, itinerant storytellers would travel around Japan delighting children with adventure. The storyteller would use a series of posters to tell a traditional Japanese story such as the “Story of Tanabata” or “The Bamboo Princess.” This way of storytelling is called Kamishibai. The staff of the Japanese House and Garden will share a traditional Japanese Kamishibai story with your class. Cost - $1.00 per student Time - half hour  2) Origami Lesson Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper to make various objects such as a crane, hat or swan. According to the legend, if someone folds one thousand cranes they will receive one wish. Therefore, in 1955 when Sadako Sasaki became ill with leukemia, just as many Japanese people became ill after the bombing of Hiroshima, she began to fold one thousand cranes in hopes of becoming healthy again. According to some accounts, she changed her inspiration and wished for peace. Since then the folding of one thousand paper cranes has been a symbol of world peace. The staff of the Japanese House and Garden will teach your class how to fold an origami hat or crane. Cost - $1.00 per student Time - half hour 3) Tea Tasting In the 6th century, Chinese monks introduced tea to Japan. Originally it was used for medicinal purposes because the tea contains a large amount of caffeine that keeps the monks awake and alert during mediation. During the 12th century, Zen Buddhism became popular among the warrior class of Japan. People began to draw from Zen principles and the drinking of tea to create the tea ceremony. By the 14th century professional tea masters, such as Sen Rikyu, arose and developed the tea ceremony into a choreographed ritual that draws on ceramics, lacquer, metalwork, calligraphy, flower arrangement, gardening, and architecture. The staff at the Japanese House and Garden will show students the correct way to breathe, sit and stand, and bow during a tea ceremony. Students will also learn how to whisk tea. Each student will be able to taste the matcha or green tea and seasonal sweet. Cost - $5.00 per student Time - 1 hour PICNIC GROVE Groups may use the picnic grove adjacent to the Japanese House and Garden to eat their sack lunch brought from home. HORTICULTURE CENTER The Horticulture Center of Fairmount Park is located in the vicinity of the Japanese House. Tours of the Horticulture Center may be made by calling 215-685-0096. Tours must be arranged in advance. The house can accommodate up to 80 people at one time. Large groups are divided into smaller ones and participate in guided tours simultaneously through the house. |
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