Yixian Park

Yixian Park is located near Taipei Main Station and is also known as the National Father's Historic Relics Memorial Hall. It is a small park dedicated to the memory of Sun Yat-sen. The Republic of China chose this location as one of the parks commemorating the National Father, mainly because it was the ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurant) where Sun Yat-sen stayed during his visit to Taiwan in 1913. This ryotei was also the venue where the then Governor-General of Taiwan, Sakuma Samata, held political discussions with Sun Yat-sen. Its current address is No. 46, Section 1, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, bordered by Civic Boulevard Section 1 to the north, Zhongshan North Road Section 1 to the east, and Taipei Main Station to the west. Yixian Park covers an area of approximately 3025 square meters, and its main building is the "Mei-ya-fu" (梅屋敷), which is about 50 ping (approximately 165 square meters). The Mei-ya-fu, named for the plum trees ("meishu") planted in its garden, was built in 1900 and was originally a ryotei operated by the Japanese businessman Yamato Sokichi. During the Japanese colonial period, Mei-ya-fu was a famous high-end ryotei in Taipei, located in Beimen-cho. Taiwan Governor-Generals, business magnates, and socialites were all frequent guests, and geishas could be summoned to entertain during banquets. The ryotei is a rectangular Japanese-style building with a roof covered in traditional dark, antique-looking tiles. Legend has it that the ryotei once promoted itself by featuring dance performances by Takasago tribe geishas to attract guests. Mei-ya-fu Ryotei not only hosted prominent political figures such as Sun Yat-sen and Hu Hanmin in the early 20th century. In the film "Introduction to the Real Situation in Taiwan", shot in 1907 by renowned director Takamatsu Toyojiro under commission from the Taiwan Governor-General's Office, the performances by Takasago tribe members dressed as Japanese geishas at Mei-ya-fu were even listed as one of Taiwan's 20 scenic spots.