#Xiaoyaoyuan-Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City

#AugustGoodPlaces2025
Xiaoyaoyuan, a Japanese-Western-style building hidden in an urban alley, was founded in 1940. It was the Taiwanese farmhouse of Otani Kozui, the 22nd head priest of the Nishi Honganji branch of the Japanese Jodo Shinshu sect. The two-story building, primarily green, features green shell sand stucco, green glazed tiles, and green cement tiles, embodying both traditional Japanese living spaces and a fusion of Japanese and Western styles. Xiaoyaoyuan's most unique feature is the large air-raid shelter on the first floor, which accommodated approximately 180 people. This shelter was built to avoid becoming a target for air raids during the period of deteriorating relations between Japan and the United States and Japan's active preparations for war. The entrance is from Jintian Road, which was originally the rear of Xiaoyaoyuan. The front entrance was from Lane 55, Liuhe 1st Road. Due to the narrow alleyway, this was changed to the rear entrance. From the front entrance, you can see the entire Xiaoyaoyuan building. The first floor houses a large dining hall, a large air-raid shelter, and a granary. The second floor houses a reception room, a small dining hall, a large hall, a study, a drafting room, Ōtani Kozui's bedroom and bathroom, a zashiki (restroom), and a kitchen. Originally, this area was a military dependents' village called Xingren New Village, and Xiaoyao Garden was hidden among these buildings. Due to years of disrepair, it fell into disrepair. Thanks to petitions from residents and the ongoing renovation of the old military dependents' village, it was rebuilt and registered as a Kaohsiung Historic Site in 2010. Ōtani Kozui was a brother-in-law of the then-Emperor Taisho and served as a cabinet councilor in the Taiwan Governor-General's Office.

Post by 祥.要去旅行 | Aug 8, 2025