2026 Yokai Family Weekend and Flea Market

Shofuso is hosting the 2026 Yokai Family Weekend on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, from 11 AM to 5 PM. The whole weekend centers on yokai—the supernatural creatures and spirits of Japanese folklore—and it's built for families. A scavenger hunt leads you to real objects around the grounds that inspired yokai myths, kamishibai storytelling recounts slightly spooky tales in Japan's classic paper-theatre style, and crafters make spooky origami to take home. All these activities are free with admission to Shofuso.

Running alongside the family programming is the fourth annual Yokai Flea Market, which sells donated Japanese goods like clothing, books, toys and dishware. All the proceeds go to the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia's arts, business and cultural programs, including the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival. If you're looking for something specific, it's a good place to dig; if you're just browsing, the money goes back into the city's Japanese cultural scene.

Shofuso itself is in West Fairmount Park, run by JASGP, a private nonprofit that's been fostering curiosity and collaboration between Japan and Philadelphia for more than 30 years. The garden is a quiet spot in the park, and this weekend turns it into a hub for folklore and crafts. Between the scavenger hunt, the storytelling, and the flea market, there's plenty to do across both days.

It runs Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, from 11 AM to 5 PM at Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center, Lansdowne Drive and Horticultural Drive in West Fairmount Park. All the activities are free with admission to Shofuso.