Moving from the old to the new, the Miyahara Eye Clinic, a historic building made of red bricks and tiles, was built in 1927 by Japanese ophthalmologist Dr Takeshi Miyahara as an eye clinic in Taichung during the Japanese colonial period, then as a health centre, and then as a renowned eatery in Taichung by two architects and a doctor of monumental restoration. In addition to the ice cream, chocolate and milk, the interior design and architectural features of the Japanese period are also worth appreciating.
The fate of Miyahara Eye Store has had many twists and turns. The 921 earthquake and typhoon damaged the building until it was purchased and renovated by Sunrise, a famous pineapple pastry shop in Taichung, in 2010, and the red-brick exterior shows a nostalgic feel of the old days. The red brick corridor is also a good spot for taking photos.
The crystal chandeliers, wood tones and yellowish lighting make the interior gorgeous and classic. Above the horizontal line is a huge bookshelf, where old books are stacked up. How does it feel to eat ice-cream of your choice in this atmosphere?
Tea is served in colourful traditional sized tin cans, and there are also pineapple soufflés, cheesecakes, suncakes, nougat, and more, so you don't need to worry too much about buying souvenirs. Chocolate lovers will be attracted to Miyahara Eyecare's speciality chocolates, which are made from fruits (such as honeydew melon, banana, ginger) and dipped in a variety of chocolates, making them a tempting alternative to ice-cream.
Eating ice cream is not seasonal. In front of the freezer, there are 18 types of fruit flavoured ice creams on display and 16 types of chocolate ice creams according to the purity of 44%-100%!
Available in single, double and triple ball packs, the quick menu of tea-flavoured ice creams has some interesting names, such as Toast to the Past, Between Half Dreams and Half Wakes, and Thinking of You After You've Broken Up. After choosing your favourite ice cream in three balls, you can sprinkle it with fruit and sunrise biscuits such as cheesecake and flower mooncake for free.
Whether it's to see the old buildings or to eat that ice cream, the Miyahara Ophthalmology Department is a must-see when travelling in Taichung.
Miyahara Ophthalmology
Address: No. 20, Zhongshan Road, Central District, Taichung, Taiwan
Opening Hours: 10am - 10pm
Phone: +886 4 2227 1927
Acknowledgement: Taichung City Government, Taiwan Tourism Bureau
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