Tamsui Japanese Police Officer Dormitory

The Tamsui Japanese Police Officer’s Dormitory, located in Tamsui District, New Taipei City, is a well-preserved Japanese colonial-era residence originally built for high-ranking police officials. It has been officially registered as a Historic Building of New Taipei City and is now managed by the Tamsui Historical Museum. The structure stands as a testament to the development of local administration during the Japanese colonial period and exemplifies traditional Japanese residential design and architectural aesthetics. It forms an integral part of Tamsui’s historical and cultural landscape.

The dormitory dates back to around 1914 (Taishō 3) and was originally built as the residence of the Chief of the Police Department of Tamsui District Office—the only high-ranking Japanese police residence in the area at the time. After World War II, it was taken over by the Taipei County Police Bureau and used as the residence of the Director of the Tamsui Branch. Successive residents included Sun Chang-wu, Ho Chi, Jin Fu-hai, Chang Chien-hsun, and Chang I-fei. Minor extensions and renovations were made to meet residents’ needs. Following the departure of the final occupants, local historians and residents advocated for preservation, leading to its official designation as a historic building on December 28, 2007.

After several research and restoration projects, the New Taipei City Government launched a major renovation in 2018, and the dormitory was opened to the public on December 17, 2019. The restoration preserved the original structure and architectural details while transforming the site into an exhibition and cultural education space, allowing visitors to explore Tamsui’s historical evolution and Japanese architectural influences.

Covering approximately 354 square meters, the dormitory is located near Fuyou Temple, Chongjian Street, and Sanchengcuo Street. It features a “Japanese-Western hybrid” architectural style, with wooden framing, weatherboard siding, and shoji-style walls. The façade includes distinctive geese-shaped ventilation windows and a stone revetment base, combining practicality and elegance. Inside, traditional Japanese spaces such as the genkan (entrance), zashiki (tatami room), bedrooms, and tea room are preserved, while a Western-style reception room at the front offers views of the Tamsui River. A wartime air-raid shelter remains at the rear, embodying the living conditions and social context of the era.