These Buildings Were Actually Built In Japan, Dismantled, And Brought To Southern California
By Natasha Kayes|Published July 06, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
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I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
You could literally spend days, maybe even weeks, exploring the 130 acres of beauty at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. From its 16 meticulously-designed themed gardens to its many stunning structures and buildings, I can personally attest to the tranquil beauty of this place. Once you are there, you don’t want to leave. Speaking of which, there are three historic buildings at The Huntington that were originally built in Japan and are absolutely worth visiting.
The iconic Japanese Garden at The Huntington has been a visitor favorite for over 100 years. It has attracted millions of people over the years with its thoughtful traditional landscaping, its moon bridge, and the picture-perfect lily ponds full of koi.
The first authentic structure to be brought to the garden is known as the Historic Japanese House. This five-room building was originally built in Japan, designed to be a commercial structure but with elements of a residential home.
It was shipped to California and rebuilt in 1904, then Acquired by Henry Huntington in 1911. It is considered to be one of this country’s best examples of Japanese architecture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Ceremonial Teahouse, called “Seifu-An” (meaning “Arbor of Pure Breeze), was built in Kyoto, Japan, in 1964. It was brought to California and belonged to the Pasadena Buddhist Temple which donated the teahouse to The Huntington.
Prior to being established here at The Huntington, the teahouse was actually shipped back to Japan for restoration, then carefully reassembled in a traditional tea garden area of the Japanese Garden.
The latest, and perhaps the most meaningful, addition to the Japanese Garden has been brought in pieces from Marugame, Japan. This is the 320-year-old Japanese Heritage Shōya House.
This striking 3,000-square-foot residence, originally built around 1700 A.D., belonged to the town “shoya,” or magistrate, and served as a center for village life. It stayed in the family and was gifted by them in 2016 to The Huntington.
Local representatives traveled to Japan and worked closely with architects there to plan the move of the house and its outbuildings, and Japanese artisans came to California in 2019 to work with local experts in reassembling the structure, as well as recreating traditional features as needed.
Construction of the Shoya House will be completed and open to the public in the fall of 2023. It will include a gatehouse entryway and landscape elements that closely resemble those it had in Japan, giving visitors a real and meaningful glimpse into rural Japanese life over 300 years ago as well as deep cultural insights.
Have you been to see the historic buildings in the stunning Japanese Garden at The Huntington? Is it your favorite of the gardens? Learn more about these structures by reading the blogs and news releases on The Huntington Website. You can also stay up-to-date on new happenings by following The Huntington on Facebook. If you have never been to this enchanting place, I highly recommend putting it on your list of places to visit. Make a weekend of it so you don’t miss a thing and consider staying at this elegant hotel just two miles from The Huntington.
