Hayashi Department Store stands on Zhongyi Road in Tainan's West Central District. It opened in 1932 under Japanese rule and is a Municipal Heritage Site today. The Art Deco building has been restored and sells goods made in Taiwan again, from local designer labels and crafts to tea, soaps and postcards. Inside, look for the sweeping staircase, the geometric window openings and the lift with a dial floor indicator. On the rooftop are a Shinto shrine, a tearoom and food outlets, along with marks left by wartime air raids. It suits a short, unhurried walk through the floors.
Hayashi Houichi and the 1932 opening
The store was founded by Hayashi Houichi, a Japanese merchant who came to Tainan in 1912. Over the following twenty years he built up his business with clothing shops, and in 1932 he opened the department store that carries his name.
At the time it was the tallest building in Tainan, and locals knew it as the Five-Stories House. It stands at a busy intersection on Zhongyi Road. Shoppers came for fashion and modern goods, and for the lift, which was among the first in Taiwan. Even Taipei had nothing like it then. The shrine on the roof was built about six months after the opening and dedicated to the patron god of the store.
War damage and the years as offices
The store's first period was short. During the Pacific War the building was hit by American air raids. After the war it was no longer a shop and became offices for the Taiwan Salt Factory.
The damage did not disappear. On the rooftop you can still find an old machine gun mount and bullet holes in the walls, and the shrine area also shows traces of the war. The building sat empty for decades before anyone took up the idea of bringing it back.
Restoration
A proposal to restore the building to its earlier use was made in 1998. The facade work received a large share of public funding, up to 80 percent, through a Ministry of Culture programme for preserving and reviving old private buildings. The store reopened to the public after the restoration, and much of the original interior, the lift and many period details remain.
Today it is a Municipal Heritage Site and the oldest surviving department store in Taiwan. The restored interiors and the working lift make it one of the clearest links to the colonial-era shopping culture of Tainan.
What to see inside
Start with the architecture. The staircase sweeps upward, and the window openings are cut in geometric shapes. The lift has a dial that points to the floor, and an attendant-style ride is part of the visit.
The design theme is Tainan life. Each floor takes its inspiration from the city and gives an idea of daily life and culture there more than eighty years ago. The top of the building has a viewing deck with a view of the city and the Shinto shrine. Food outlets and a tearoom are also up here, along with a gift shop.
What the shelves hold
The store sells goods made in Taiwan and Tainan. Items range from postcards, soaps, scarves and cutlery to books, watches, chocolate, tea and jewellery. Local designer brands and Tainan-themed records are also on sale, so it is an easy place to find souvenirs.
One small service sets it apart: staff can change earrings to ear clips on the spot. The mix of handmade pieces, local craft and snacks makes the store feel closer to a boutique than to a modern department store.
FAQ
When was Hayashi Department Store built?
It opened in 1932, during the Japanese colonial period. Hayashi Houichi, a Japanese merchant who had settled in Tainan in 1912, founded it.
Is the original elevator still in use?
Yes. The original lift still runs and has a dial floor indicator. It was among the first lifts in Taiwan.
What can you see on the rooftop?
The rooftop has a Shinto shrine dedicated to the patron god of the store, a tearoom and food outlets. You can also see an old machine gun mount and bullet holes from the wartime air raids.
What does the store sell?
It sells goods made in Taiwan, including local designer items, crafts, tea, chocolate, soaps, scarves, jewellery, postcards and Tainan records.
Where is Hayashi Department Store?
It is at 63, Section 2, Zhongyi Road, in Tainan's West Central District. Other sights in the district, such as the Confucius Temple and the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, are nearby.
