Art park opens in Taipei’s Japanese-era prison

Описание: An old Japanese-era prison located near the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall has been reborn as a Japanese style art park. Taihoku Prison on Taipei’s Jinhua Street was built in 1905. And now, after three years’ renovation, it’s open to the public as a leisure destination. Visitors can try on traditional Japanese dress or enjoy Japanese fine dining.

A fresh fillet of perch is garnished with lemongrass and served with scallops and truffle: a real treat with the elegant backdrop of this Japanese-style wooden building.

Lin Chiu-yi
Restaurant general manager
There’s quite a lot of space here, so we were worried about the number of people. We didn’t expect that after the whole park opened, it would be so beautiful. So as business owners operating here, we’re very happy.

Fresh bagels come out of the oven and sell like hot cakes. Nearby, at this Japanese pancake waffle cafe, the goods are going just as fast.

Here on Jinhua Street lies Taihoku Prison, a prison from the Japanese colonial era that is more than 100 years old. Its guard dorms have been renovated over three years, at a cost of NT$200 million, to become this Japanese-style art park, with 15 businesses onsite, from restaurants to leisure brands.

Adults and children are trying on wafuku, traditional Japanese dress. Their exquisite designs are perfect for unique selfies.

Melody
Wafuku shop owner
We’re packed out almost every day, and our bookings are totally full. There’s lots of people even on weekdays.

Taihoku Prison was established in 1905. The predecessor of Taipei Prison incarcerated famous inmates like resistance activists Chiang Wei-shui and Fukusei Ra alongside the poet Loa Ho. The Japanese-style dorms and ancient trees survive to this day, giving visitors a trip back into Taipei’s history.