Department of Cultural Affairs

Hours of operation
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Mondays through Sundays
Contact information
Telephone: (02) 2363-9459
Web site:http://wistariahouse.com/English/index1.html
Address#1, Lane 16, XinSheng South Road, Taipei City
Transportation
Rapid Transit: Take the Xindian line, disembarking at Gongguan Station. Bus: Lines 284, 3, 15, 52, 18, 311, 505, or Chihnan Passenger Bus #1; disembark at either the "Civil Servant Training Center" or "Longan Elementary School" bus stops.
History
Wistaria House was originally an old, one-story Japanese-style house. After it was damaged by a typhoon, half of the exterior of the structure was rebuilt as a two-story, Western-style house in 1960. Although it is a hybrid of two different architectural styles, through the meticulous placement of implements, art pieces and furniture, and the blending of historical hues, it ingeniously melds the two together, even creating an aesthetic atmosphere all its own.
Brief introduction
Mr. Chou Yu first opened Wistaria House in 1981, one of the very first venues in Taipei for appreciating tea in a refined and artistic environment. The teahouse got its name from an old wistaria plant that grew along the front eaves. Wistaria House has gained particular renown for its promotion of the traditional art of the tea ceremony, and was innovative in establishing itself as a place for preserving traditions of culture, art and the philosophy of spiritual cultivation. In addition, it has been the meeting place of social activists and scholarly critics, and many cultural groups have on occasion met here for seminars and performances. This special combination has given Wistaria House a unique cultural and historical spirit and artistic charm.