Hinoki Village

The starting point of the Alishan Forest Railway is Beimen Station in Chiayi City, thus it is known as the gateway to Alishan. In the early days, timber transported down the mountain by the Alishan Forest Railway gathered in Chiayi City, leading to a boom in timber businesses and sawmills around Beimen Station, creating a prosperous scene at the time and driving the development of nearby commerce. The Japanese-style houses built in the surrounding area at that time all used Hinoki cypress as building material, which is a major feature of Japanese architecture and a historical testament to the development of Alishan's forestry industry. Hinoki Village's operational area primarily covers the park on both sides of Linsen East Road, with the entire park spanning 3.4 hectares. The northern part is where the current 'Two Leaves and a Bud Hall' (一心二葉館) is located, which was originally a cluster of dormitories for Japanese junior staff, while the southern area consisted of official residences for high-ranking officials. After more than sixty years, Hinoki-cho has been restored using traditional Japanese construction methods and as much original material as possible. Currently, 29 wooden historical buildings are preserved. After four years of renovation, the splendor of the original Hinoki Village has been revived. This is not only Taiwan's earliest forestry village but also the best-preserved and most extensive complex of Japanese-style official residences. The Chiayi City-designated historic site, the Forestry Club (營林俱樂部), was built around 1914 and served as a leisure and entertainment venue for the Forestry Bureau of the Taiwan Governor-General's Office at the time. Its architectural style emulates 17th-century European Tudor architecture, with an indoor area of approximately 75 ping (approximately 247.5 square meters). In 1946, it served as the auditorium for the Forestry Management Office. In 1948, it was converted into Zhongxiao Kindergarten. From 1984 to 1987, it was borrowed by the Chiayi County Investigation Station of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau for office use, after which it was repurposed as a dormitory for unmarried employees of the Forestry Bureau. Today, it is listed as a Chiayi City-designated historic site, preserving the memory of forestry history. Transformed from the Two Leaves and a Bud Hall, 'Sen Market' (森‧Market) collaborates with over 100 brands and farmers' associations across Taiwan, offering high-quality products directly from their origins within the hall. It also partners with 'Rural Roads' (鄉間小路), an agricultural lifestyle magazine with over 40 years of history, to discover exquisite agricultural products that resonate with consumers through compelling stories of farmers. Through curated exhibitions, the content from 'Rural Roads' will be used as exhibition material. Upon entering the Two Leaves and a Bud Hall, visitors will first encounter the magazine's content brought to life through a three-dimensional exhibition. This display method allows consumers to further connect with agricultural products and create an experience of being moved by the land!