Guided Search: International Relations, Japanese

The Mid-Atlantic-Eurasia Business Council (MAEBC/MARBC) is pleased to announce the Days of Eurasian-American Innovation Entrepreneurship Cooperation (RAVC Fall 2017), which will take place in Philadelphia, PA and the Mid-Atlantic Region from October 30th to November 9th.

Discover the hidden historical connection between the 1876 Centennial Exposition’s Japanese Bazaar and Shofuso’s location in Fairmount Park. In this walking tour and lecture, we will visit Memorial Hall, Shofuso and the Sakura Pavilion to learn about the history of the centennial and the current archaeological excavation taking place at the footprint of the bazaar. The program will end with a talk by a member of the archaeological team AECOM and the opportunity to see artifacts that have been found to date. An informal wine and cheese reception will conclude the program.

Come tour the house and visit the garden! Shofuso will be open Wednesdays through Fridays 10am to 4pm, Saturdays and Sundays 11am to 5pm. Curious about when the cherry trees will bloom? Visit: http://www.japanesehouse.org/category/garden/!

Visit Shofuso to see and learn about traditional Japanese Children’s Day decorations. These including vibrant koi flags, an elaborate hina doll set, and other toys associated with this Japanese holiday. Included with regular admission.

Bring your camera and take advantage of cherry blossom season with this special Monday opening! We’ll open our doors for a special shogi (Japanese chess) tournament during which visitors are welcome to learn and practice alongside professional Shogi players from Japan. Free with regular admission

National Public Gardens Day is an annual celebration of the nation’s public gardens to raise awareness of the important role botanical gardens and arboreta play in promoting environmental stewardship, plant and water conservation, green spaces, and education in communities nationwide. Shofuso offers garden tours throughout the day, with special tours led by Head Gardener Franceska Snyder at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm, as our azaleas reach peak bloom.

Tanabata is the traditional Japanese star festival, held in midsummer. Join us to tie wishes (tanzaku) to a bamboo tree, watch our giant tanabata “star” ornaments swish in the breeze, and make paper cranes for good luck.

Summer is here and we need your help! We’re looking for up to 20 volunteers to help get our gardens in top shape. Volunteering starts promptly at 9am, and concludes at 11am, with a light lunch provided by board members and volunteers at the nearby Sakura Pavilion. This is a popular volunteering event, and spots fill up quickly. Registration is required!