A Nostalgic Journey to a Little Japanese Kyoto – Taiwan’s First Forest Cultural & Creative Park

Text by MOOK Traveler Christopher, compiled and reported

In the heart of Chiayi City lies a forest cultural & creative park covering approximately 3.4 hectares, preserving traditional Japanese-style architecture. Stepping into this village feels like traveling back to an elegant era in history. The park has repurposed former dormitories and official residences of early Japanese staff using traditional Japanese construction methods, transforming them into a new hub for forestry culture, art, tourism, and entertainment – the Huiyi Senhuo Village. It is not only Taiwan’s earliest forestry village but also the most complete and expansive complex of preserved Japanese official residences. As a result, the building complex was designated as a municipal historic site and historical building in 2005.

The park also features the municipal historic site, the Forestry Club, built around 1914 as a recreational venue for the then-Taiwan Governor-General’s Forestry Bureau. Its architectural style mimics 17th-century Tudor-style buildings in England, offering strong historical charm and exotic appeal.