On June 30th 2013, the Hayashi Department Store(林百貨), the largest of Tainan’s old building’s, was opened for tours after refurbishment. Crowds lined up from 7 am until the afternoon to enter the “five story building” (五棧樓仔) built in 1932 during the Japanese Colonial Time. It was a very busy part of Tainan, but after the end of the Japanese Colonial Period, the owner returned to Japan, and the Hayashi Department Store was left empty, leaving people to eventually forget about its former glory.

In 2014, its status as a department store was restored, with a great many limited edition Hayashi goods on sale inside. In addition, there are some important points that must not be missed: The elevator’s floor indicator is the old style dial type, now probably the only remaining one in Taiwan, which preserves the authentic feel of the place. The Torii shrine on the top floor is also one of a kind, be sure to go upstairs and have a look. A hole in a wall from the bombing by US Forces during World War II is a link to the building’s past.

Resource: Tourism Bureau of Tainan City Government
Travel Info
Hayashi Department Store
[林百貨/Lín Baǐ Huò]
-Located in: Southern Taiwan
-County: Tainan
-Features: Scenic spots
-Highly recommend to: History Buffs, Couples, Families
-Opening Hours: 11:00-22:00
-TEL: +886-6-2213000
-Address: No. 63, Section 2, Zhongyi Road, West Central District, Tainan City