Guangfu Sugar Refinery isn’t just about delicious ice cream — its Japanese-style wooden houses have been transformed into lodgings where you can enjoy a “slow life.”

▲ The yet-to-be-opened Grade A dormitories of Hualien Sugar Refinery. (Photo / Reporter Lee Tzu-yi, same below)

Reporter Lee Tzu-yi / Hualien Report

Located near Guangfu Railway Station in Hualien County, the Hualien Sightseeing Sugar Refinery was once the hub of sugar production in eastern Taiwan. With the passage of time, it has gradually transformed into a tourist and recreational destination. Aside from savoring the famed sugar refinery ice cream, guests can stay in charming Japanese-style cottages that were formerly employee dormitories, or cycle to the nearby Matai’an Wetlands to immerse themselves in nature and experience the “slow life” that modern people crave.

The classic Japanese-style wooden houses within the Hualien Sightseeing Sugar Refinery were originally staff dormitories, categorized by grade into Type A, B, C, and D. Type A (approximately 25 pyeong, allocated for section chiefs and factory director-level families), Type B (approximately 20 pyeong, for full-time engineers or deputy director-level families), Type C (approximately 16 pyeong, for team leaders and engineer-level families), and Type D (approximately 13 pyeong, for general staff-level families). Currently, only Type D dormitories are open to travelers, offering 2-person and 3-person rooms. The more spacious Type A and B dormitories are not yet available for accommodation but are expected to have updates announced by summer 2015.

▲ Exterior of the Type D dormitory.

▲ Living room of the Type D dormitory.

▲ Chest used for storing bedding.

▲ Bedroom. (Photo / Provided by Hualien Sightseeing Sugar Refinery)

Upon entering the family-type wooden cottage of the Type D dormitory, you’re greeted by a traditional Japanese genkan (entrance area). After removing your shoes and sliding open the door, you’ll find a tatami-floored living room with low tables and square cushions. Further inside is a spacious tatami-style Japanese room, and opening the bedding chest reveals stored quilts and pillows. The mattresses are kept in another narrow space resembling a study or changing room. Bedding is only taken out at night, and neatly stored away during the day to maintain the clean, simple aesthetic of Japanese-style design.

▲ Shower area.

Beyond the room lies a hallway connecting to the bathroom and back door. The bathroom features sliding doors separating the toilet and washbasin from the shower and bathtub areas. Whether you’re taking a shower or a bath, the water used is mountain spring water — known for its exceptional sweetness, which is also one of the secrets behind the delicious ice cream made at the Hualien Sugar Refinery. Stepping out the back door, you’ll be greeted by lush green lawns and gardens, offering a picturesque view.

Lin Kuo-liang, a section chief at Hualien Sightseeing Sugar Refinery, shared that many guests particularly love staying here because the Japanese-style wooden houses evoke a familiar sense of homes from the Japanese colonial period, especially appealing to older visitors. Since many guests are seniors, some mentioned that getting up from the traditional Japanese bedding can be challenging. In response, the yet-to-open Grade A and B dormitories will include spring mattresses, offering both Western-style bedrooms and Japanese-style rooms along with two bathrooms — ensuring comfort for all age groups who appreciate the wooden cottage charm. The Type B dormitories even feature a specially designed accessible room for guests with disabilities, adding convenience and inclusivity. Each room can accommodate up to 8 people with additional beds, making it perfect for families to enjoy quality time together under one roof.

▲ Yang Meng-yao, who has worked as a tour guide for 15 years, introduces the “amado” storm shutters used to protect against wind and rain.

▲ Exterior of the Type A dormitory.

▲ Lobby of the Type A dormitory.

▲ Western-style bedrooms specially designed in Type A and B dormitories for easier movement, especially for seniors.

▲ Bathroom of the accessible room in the Type B dormitory. (Photo / Provided by Hualien Sightseeing Sugar Refinery)

Wooden houses require meticulous maintenance. Guests will notice there are almost no mosquitoes indoors. Upon inquiry, Lin Kuo-liang explained that the houses are regularly disinfected and treated for pests. For newly built homes, this process is carried out in phases over about a year to achieve a nearly pest-free environment. Preserving the tatami mats is also no easy task — they must first be vacuumed to remove dust, then wiped with diluted white vinegar to keep them clean and shiny.

▲ The must-try sugar refinery ice at Hualien Sightseeing Sugar Refinery.

Lin Kuo-liang mentioned that the management strategy of Hualien Sightseeing Sugar Refinery is “slowness over speed.” Many returning guests come for the “slow life” that the resort offers. The Hualien Sugar Refinery, Matai’an Wetland Ecological Park, and Danongdafu Flatland Forest Park form a golden triangle in the area, all within short cycling distance. Guests won’t find themselves bored — they can enjoy nighttime stargazing, spot fireflies, and take in natural landscapes rarely seen in urban areas. Lin Kuo-liang laughed and said, “Nature doesn’t cost much, but going back to basics is the key point. To live is to move — cycling here is the best way to travel. Go slowly, and you’ll see even more beautiful scenery.”

Hualien Sightseeing Sugar Refinery

Address: No. 19, Sugar Factory St., Guangfu Township, Hualien County (a 10-minute walk from Guangfu Railway Station)
Phone: (03)870-5881
Room Rates (including breakfast, free bicycle rental): Japanese-style wooden houses (Type D dormitory) — 2-person room and 3-person family cottage: priced at NT$3,600 and NT$4,800 respectively (off-season weekdays at 60% off, weekends at 80% off / peak season (July & August) weekdays at 70% off, weekends at 90% off). Opening dates and rates for Type A and B dormitories are expected to be announced by summer at the earliest.