Visiting Rongjin Gorgeous Time In Taipei (蓉錦時光)
Rongjin Gorgeous Time in Taipei is a small cluster of restored Japanese-style houses with cafés, restaurants, and boutiques.
It sits at the southern end of Yongkang Street (永康街), which is one of the must-visit places in Taipei. You can easily visit both areas in one day: start with food and shopping on Yongkang, then walk over to Rongjin for a quiet break (and enjoy more food!).
I first visited Rongjin Gorgeous Time with my best friend Vivian in the summer of 2025, and it quickly became one of my favorite places to spend a relaxing afternoon.
In this post, you’ll find a quick history, how to get there, what to eat and drink, and tips for planning your visit.
Hi, I’m Grace, born and raised in Taiwan and now living in the United States. I return to Taipei every year to visit family, and I enjoy discovering new places each time I’m back. I hope my experiences and tips help you plan a fun trip to Taipei.
Rongjin Gorgeous Time (蓉錦時光)
Here is everything you need to know about this place.
How To Get To Rongjin Gorgeous Time
See this place on Google Maps.
If you’re taking the MRT, ride the Red or Orange Line to Dongmen Station (R07 or O06). Exit from Exit 3, and it’s about a 10-minute walk from there.
If you’re already exploring Yongkang Street (永康街), just continue south toward Jinhua Street (金華街). Turn right when you reach Jinhua Street, and after a few minutes, you’ll see Rongjin Gorgeous Time right in front of you.
By the way, I have a standalone post about Yongkang Street, if you are interested in learning more about the place.
A Glimpse of History
You might be wondering why these Japanese-style wooden houses sit in the middle of Taipei.
That’s because Taiwan was under Japanese rule from 1895 to 1945, after the Treaty of Shimonoseki (馬關條約).
During those fifty years, the Japanese government built railways, schools, offices, and residential neighborhoods across the island. Therefore, you can still see traces of Japanese influence in Taiwan’s architecture today.
The buildings at Rongjin were the officials’ dormitories for Taihoku Prison (臺北刑務所官舍), built in the early 1900s. The prison followed modern planning ideas of the time, and these nearby wooden houses provided staff housing.
After World War II, the area continued to be used for housing. By the 1990s, many of the buildings had fallen into disrepair, but local groups stepped in to preserve what was left, including the century-old banyan trees.
The city later designated part of the site as a historic area and restored several houses.
In 2022, the space reopened as Rongjin Gorgeous Time (蓉錦時光生活園區), keeping the historic look while welcoming cafés, small shops, and open courtyards.
If you enjoy learning more about the history, take a moment to read the outdoor panels or stop by the visitor center.
Rongjin Visitor Center
Start your visit here.
The Rongjin Visitor Center is a small, quiet space inside one of the wooden houses, and it gives you a quick picture of what you are looking at before you walk around.
Inside, you’ll see:
- A short timeline that explains how the area went from Taihoku Prison officials’ dormitories to the Huaguang Community and then to today’s garden-style park.
- Historic photos and before-and-after images of the buildings and courtyards.
- A simple site map showing each house and what it’s used for now.
- Notes about the old banyan trees and why they are protected.
What to Eat and Drink
You can see all the shops and restaurants listed on their official website here. And I will also list several of the popular ones:
京町 山本屋 (Yamamotoya)
See this place on Google Maps.
I came here with my best friend Vivian for afternoon tea this past summer, and we absolutely loved it!
We’d already had lunch, so we stopped by just for dessert, but the meal menu looked so good that we promised ourselves to come back next time.
We shared a matcha set with traditional Japanese sweets, and that pudding cake (in the photo below) was massive and so good. It paired perfectly with the ice cream. Vivian ordered the matcha shaved ice with red beans, and of course, I forgot to take a picture.
Everything was beautifully presented, and the cozy wooden interior made us feel like we were sitting in a little teahouse in Kyoto.
Taihu Gyoza Bar (台虎居餃屋)
See this place on Google Maps.
If you want something casual with good drinks, Taihu Brewing is a Taiwanese brewery that’s been making great beer since 2014.
They like to keep things fun and try new concepts, and here at Rongjin they created a Japanese-style izakaya built around one idea: dumplings with beer.
JinJinDing (金錦町)
See this place on Google Maps.
Jinjinding is one of the places I’m planning to visit on my next trip back, and I already love it just from doing the research. This dessert shop is known for its refined castella cakes, beautifully packaged sweets, and a calm, elegant atmosphere that fits perfectly with Rongjin Gorgeous Time.
Their castella cakes are the signature item. They come in flavors like brown sugar and cheese, and people rave about the soft, rich texture. Jinjinding also sells cookies and pineapple cakes that are popular as gifts because the packaging is stylish and very “Taipei modern.”
They also offer an afternoon tea set, which makes this a great place to sit down for a break during your visit. The set usually includes a drink and a selection of desserts, presented in their signature elegant style. With the restored building and quiet setting, it feels like a peaceful spot to slow down for a moment.
Final Thoughts
If you love local history, cozy cafés, or simply discovering a different side of Taipei, Rongjin Gorgeous Time is worth adding to your list.
It is a place that makes you slow down and appreciate the quieter side of Taipei. I love how it keeps the charm of the old Japanese houses while adding cafés, shops, and open spaces that invite you to linger.
It’s an easy place to visit, walk over after exploring Yongkang Street, grab a coffee or dessert, and enjoy the peaceful setting.
