Hayashi Department Store, Historic department store in West Central District, Taiwan
Hayashi Department Store is a six-story building that now houses retail shops, restaurants, and exhibition spaces. The facade shows Art Deco details with straight lines and geometric ornamentation, while inside the original room layout and window construction remain partly intact.
The Hayashi brothers opened the store in 1932 to serve the growing demand for imported goods in Tainan. During World War II it suffered bomb damage from Allied air raids and remained abandoned for decades until a full restoration took place in 2014.
The name honors Shōgoro Hayashi, who opened the store with his brother and introduced modern Western goods to Tainan residents. A small Shinto shrine remains on the rooftop, built by the original owners and reminding visitors of religious practices during the Japanese colonial period.
The building stands a short walk from Tainan Railway Station and opens daily from 11 AM to 9 PM. Visitors should try the old dial elevator but can also take the stairs to see the architecture of each floor.
Inside is one of the few working elevators with a mechanical pointer display from the prewar period in Taiwan. After reopening in 2014 the building became so popular that timed entry was sometimes needed, since only 500 people were allowed inside at once.
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