Hsinchu Police Commissioner’s Residence 新竹州警務部部長官舍

Growing Hsinchu

Hsinchu has gone through various phases throughout its history. From being a walled-in city of the Qing Dynasty, then an Imperial Japanese colony, and finally to a modern urban center. As the city has grown up, there are small pockets of Hsinchu that have stayed in place. One of these time capsules is the Hsinchu Police Commissioner’s Residence (新竹州警務部部長官舍).

Throughout Hsinchu, there are countless Japanese buildings that have been left to rot over the years. These houses may even be considered lucky. An unknown number of other historic sites have been reduced to rubble as the city grows. Fortunately, the Hsinchu Police Commissioner’s Residence has been saved from the wrecking ball. The colonial-era home is now even considered a symbol of the city.

Looking for even more Japanese history in Japan? Check out the Ryotei at Hsinchu Park!

Historic Grounds

Like many other historic Japanese homes in Hsinchu, the house is surrounded by a tall concrete wall. Only attentive travelers will be able to notice the terracotta rooves and flowing banners in front of the Hsinchu Police Commissioner’s Residence. Even those who catch a glimpse of the home will stand sheepishly at the entrance not knowing what it is.

The Hsinchu Police Commissioner’s Residence is several things at once. It is a small garden, an art gallery, and a Michelin star restaurant. Located on the busy corner of Ren’ai Street (仁愛街) and Zhongyang Road (中央路),  the grounds are gorgeous. With tons of shade and a well-manicured lawn, the compound makes for the perfect place to take a quick breather away from the city street and step back over one hundred years in the past.

What makes the Hsinchu Police Commissioner’s Residence particularly interesting is that it is the oldest high-ranking official residence in the city. Records place the construction of the home somewhere between 1917 and 1921 during the Taisho Era in Japan.

Wanting to grab a bite while in a historic home? Check out this over one-hundred-year-old izakaya!

Flying Hsinchu

After taking in all of the different angles of the home, you can then enter the residence itself. The majority of the building is still a restaurant that is closed off from visitors. During the day, however, travelers can still wander the exhibits placed in the two living rooms of the complex.

Although small, the displays showcase anything from art to history. Most recently, the exhibit highlighted the beauty of Hsinchu through photos taken by Pan Guozheng (潘國正). The exhibits are free to visit, but only during non-dining hours. The grounds are open to visitors Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00 to 6:00.

If you’re wanting to check out more art, head over to Zhubei and visit the Hsinchu County Museum of Art!

132 Food Theater

The restaurant housed in the Hsinchu Police Commissioner’s Residence is led by Michelin star award-winning chef Josh Wang (王正岳). Wang is also the chef at Taipei’s No. 1 Food Theater (一號糧倉). He has now gone on to open a sister restaurant in Hsinchu simply named No. 132 Food Theater (132糧倉). The restaurant is open from 6-9 pm and requires a reservation. In the future, there are plans to also do lunch.

The interior of the home is quite bare. It almost seems more like a summer camp cafeteria rather than an upscale restaurant. The meals run a high price as well. For one person, the several-course meal will run well above 2,000 NTD (67 USD). What does set the restaurant apart is the fact that they have traditional Japanese music nights where guests can be serenaded by soothing music. It may even help you forget the dreaded bill which is sure to find itself sliding across your table.

Wanting to grab a coffee at a temple? Be sure to visit Fang Wai Coffee!

A Pocket of History

Downtown Hsinchu is home to over 71 historic sites and the list is ever-growing. The future of this city is bright because of the strides taken by the government in recent years to preserve and open up historical sights around the city. Even with tons of renovation projects being done throughout Hsinchu, there are still many aging houses slowly collapsing on themselves.

The Hsinchu Police Commissioner’s Residence is just another victory on a growing list of traditional homes being saved. Even though it is currently occupied by a restaurant well out of the price range of your average traveler, the grounds of the complex are still open for all to enjoy. History should not only be kept for those with deep pockets, but for everyone who sees the value of preserving our past.

There is more to do in Hsinchu than you think. Check out this list of all the top things to do in Hsinchu!