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From government housing to a living cultural heritage
Located in the heart of Chiayi, Hinoki Village is one of the rare wooden architectural complexes in Taiwan that has been preserved almost intact. It is preserved as a "living museum"—a place where history is not framed behind glass but is vividly present in real life, right before the viewer's eyes.
Hinoki Village is nestled amidst the high-rise buildings and bustling streets of Chiayi City.
To understand the value of Hinoki Village, one must go back to the early 20th century, when Taiwan was still under Japanese rule. At that time, Chiayi was considered the center of the forestry industry – a true “timber capital.” A landmark event was the completion of the Alishan Railway in 1912, which allowed for the unprecedented transportation of valuable timber from the high mountains to the plains.
In that context, Hinoki Village emerged as a collective housing area for forestry workers. The name "Hinoki," meaning red cypress, refers to the primary material used to construct the entire village, notable for its distinctive fragrance, natural resistance to termites, and high durability over time. The use of red cypress demonstrates the abundant resources available at the time and reflects the unique status of this housing area within the forestry management system.
This village today serves as a preservation site for a rare collection of cypress wood architecture from the Alishan mountain region.
After the decline of the forestry industry, Hinoki Village fell into oblivion until the government decided to revive it and bring it back into operation in 2014 as a cultural and creative space, open to the public.
Machiya architecture and miniature Japanese spaces
In the heart of Chiayi City, Hinoki Village emerges with its changing maple leaves, rows of gleaming black wooden houses, and the faint scent of red cypress in the air. Koinobori carp-shaped lanterns flutter in the breeze, wind chimes tinkle under the eaves, and small ponds with koi fish swimming alongside rock formations create a sense of seclusion, transporting visitors to a tranquil space before delving into the architectural values.
Hinoki offers a tranquil space, isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Right at the main entrance to the village is a giant cypress tree trunk carved with the village's name. This ancient tree trunk serves as a natural gateway, marking the village's boundaries and introducing the main building material used throughout the entire village.
The ancient tree trunks serve as the main identifying feature of the village.
The 28 wooden houses in the village are all built in the traditional Japanese Machiya style. The entire structure, from columns and beams to partitions, is made from rare Hinoki (red cypress) wood from the Alishan region, a type of wood known for its durability and distinctive natural fragrance. The houses feature low black tile roofs, tightly fitted wooden walls, and shoji sliding doors lined with paper or glass, maximizing the use of sunlight.
All the houses in the village are built in the same architectural style, color, and texture, creating a unified whole.
The interior design of the houses prioritizes ventilation, with raised wooden floors to prevent dampness. Wide verandas (engawa) run along the facade, acting as buffer spaces between the interior and the gardens, where visitors can sit and observe the landscape. The arrangement of the rows of houses and the stone-paved pathways winding through the small gardens are carefully planned to ensure airflow and create refreshing green views.
The houses all have open verandas, tiled roofs, and shoji sliding doors.
Despite undergoing restoration to become a creative cultural area, Hinoki Village retains the distinctive wood-joining techniques and decorative details of its earlier period. The combination of durable red cypress wood and refined garden design helps to preserve the image of a forestry communal house embodying the spirit of Japan in the heart of Taiwan.
Wooden houses, cobblestone pathways interspersed with gardens and ponds give the village a distinctly Japanese appearance.
Explore the space and experiences designed for tourists.
The stone-paved paths in the village lead through rows of wooden houses, opening up to different spaces: sometimes a small garden corner with a pond and boulders, sometimes a quiet veranda under the shade of maple trees, sometimes an ancient tree adorned with wind chimes or a wishing tree with densely hung red string wooden tags recording wishes or personal messages from past visitors.
Inside the wooden houses, the space has been transformed into shops and experiential areas. Visitors can stop at the handicraft stalls, observe and shop for small items such as keychains, decorations, or souvenirs made from wood, retaining its natural color and grain.
Some shops sell cultural items such as tea, essential oils, and food. These products don't follow mass tourism trends but maintain a minimalist design, focusing on the user experience in accordance with Japanese philosophy.
Alongside these are tea and coffee shops scattered throughout the village. Their interiors retain the original wooden structure, soft lighting, and minimalist decor, making them ideal places to stop and rest.
A place selling tea, essential oils, and peace pouches.
Another popular activity is renting traditional clothing like kimonos or yukata to stroll and take photos among the wooden houses. Almost every shop has a unique model in front of its door, from Totoro and Ghibli's No-Face to lucky cat figurines and many other creative handcrafted models. This inadvertently turns the stroll into a "hunt" for unique models in the village to take photos with.
Creative cartoon models are scattered throughout the village for tourists to take photos with.
Hinoki Village is open daily, typically from 10:00 to 18:00 for shops and exhibition areas. The outdoor grounds can be accessed earlier or later, suitable for visitors who want a quieter atmosphere.
Admission is free. Additional costs mainly come from services inside the complex, such as food and drinks, costume rentals, or visiting themed exhibitions.
Map of Hinoki Village for visitors' reference.
Today's Values: From Exploitation to Conservation
The biggest change in Hinoki Village is not in its form, but in its role. In the past, it served an industry based on resource extraction. The value of wood was measured by volume and profit. Today, that value has shifted in a different direction: culture and experience.
Hinoki Village has become a creative hub, providing a space for local artists, designers, and artisans to showcase and experiment. This reflects a new approach to heritage: not just preservation, but also reuse. Instead of holding onto the past as a lifeless object, it brings it into present life in a meaningful way.
