Opening Hours
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Project Fact Sheet – The Japanese Heritage Shōya House at The Huntington
What
The Japanese Heritage Shōya House is a restored residential compound from 18th-century rural Japan that opens to the public on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.
Where
The historic Japanese Garden at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California.
Key Features
House square footage: 3,000
Compound size: 2 acres
Compound major features:
- House (originally built around 1700; restored with new elements in 2020–23)
- Gatehouse (replica based on original design)
- Courtyard
- Agricultural fields
- Kitchen garden
- Inner courtyard with a pond
Irrigation canal
Key Dates
November 2018: Dismantle Shōya House in Japan
Spring 2019: Restoration in Japan
December 2019: Ship to the United States
August 2020: Groundbreaking
May 19, 2021: Jōtõshiki, a Shinto ceremony held to bless the construction project
April 2022: Completion of structure
Summer 2022: Garden construction underway
October 21, 2023: Public opening
Cost
$10.2 million (funded entirely by philanthropic support)
Project Team
The Huntington
Nicole Cavender, Telleen/Jorgensen Director of the Botanical Gardens
Robert Hori, Associate Director of Cultural Programs
Thomas Polansky, Vice President for Operations and Facilities
Audrey Ng, Facilities and Security Project Manager
Architects
Yoshiaki Nakamura, Kohseki/Nakamura Sotoji Komuten (Kyoto, Japan)
Masao Mike Okamoto, U.S. Architect of Record
Japanese Carpentry Team
Uzukubo Kobo
Yamakura Kensetsu
Somakosha
Garden Restoration
Takuhiro Yamada, Hanatoyo Landscape Co. Ltd. (Kyoto, Japan)
Consultants
Garden Restoration: Hanatoyo
P2S Engineering: MEP Engineer
Civil Engineer: Psomas
Structural Engineer: John A. Martin & Associates
U.S. General Contractor: Snyder Langston
Japanese Contractor: Kohseki
Sustainability Highlights
- Adaptive use of an existing structure
- The complex meets the performance objectives of California’s Building Energy Code, Title 24
- Energy-efficient lighting and light control systems
- Water-efficient plumbing systems
- Stormwater retention basin within site landscaping
