Hayashi Department Store, Tainan

About the Site: Opened on December 5, 1932, the Hayashi Department Store can be seen as a classic example of the transition from 'Japanese style' to 'European style.' It represents not only a significant shared memory for local citizens but also served as a window and a driving force for Taiwan's modernization process at the time. Building on this history, culture is more than just nostalgia; it requires new elements. Therefore, accumulating cultural depth should be the next stage after understanding its history. Just as Hayashi Department Store was a driver and a showcase for modernization in its era, today it has become a driver and a showcase for cultural Tainan. Since its reopening in 2014, the Kaohsin Fashion team has diligently managed Hayashi Department Store, integrating cultural creativity with the historic architecture. By telling stories through Tainan's unique products combined with the historic building, it has attracted over ten million visitors since its reopening and has become a prominent landmark in Tainan! When it opened in 1932, the Hayashi Department Store in Tainan was situated in the most prosperous commercial district of Tainan, known as 'Ginza.' It was Taiwan's second and Tainan's first department store, and notably, the only department store in Taiwan to house a shrine. At the time, Hayashi Department Store was the tallest building in Tainan, earning it the nickname 'Wucenglou-a' (Five-Story Building), and was the epitome of modernity, selling high-end imported goods. After World War II, it experienced a long period of closure until it was re-opened on June 14, 2014, by Kaohsin Fashion Co., Ltd., repositioned as a 'cultural and creative department store,' thereby once again becoming a Tainan tourist landmark. Today, Hayashi Department Store is no longer just the old 'Wucenglou-a' building; it now combines cultural creativity, history, and local Tainan culture, making it a must-visit attraction for both domestic and international tourists visiting Tainan! In the past, Tainan locals looked out to the world through Hayashi Department Store; today, Hayashi Department Store 'lets the world see Tainan'!