AMA MUSEUM

Updated April 15, 2024

## AMA Museum (阿嬤家：和平與女性人權館) — What to Know Before You Go

The AMA Museum in Taipei’s Datong District is Taiwan’s dedicated museum to the history and legacy of the island’s “comfort women.” It combines survivor testimony, historical documents, and contemporary human-rights education in a compact, thoughtfully curated space. The museum is operated by the Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation (TWRF) and has been open at its current address since a 2021 relocation.

### Quick facts (verified)
– Official name: AMA Museum / 阿嬤家：和平與女性人權館
– Current address: 5F., No. 32, Sec. 3, Chengde Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City (臺北市大同區承德路三段32號5樓) — about a 5-minute walk from Minquan West Road MRT (Exit 5).
– Opening days / hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00–17:00 (check the museum’s monthly calendar for occasional adjustments).
– Contact: +886-2-2553-7133, [email protected].

> ⚠️ Outdated data to watch for: Many third-party sites still list the old Dihua Street location that closed in November 2020. The museum reopened in 2021 at the Chengde Road address above. Always cross-check with the official site.

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## Why this museum matters

“AMA” is the Taiwanese Hokkien word for “grandmother.” The name honors survivors—most of whom were elderly when their stories came forward—who were forced into sexual slavery under Japanese rule during World War II. The museum’s mission extends beyond commemoration: it anchors public education on gender-based violence, transitional justice, and women’s human rights in Taiwan.

The core narrative tracks three threads:

1. Colonial history in Taiwan — context for how coercion and military logistics enabled the system of wartime sexual slavery.
2. Survivor advocacy and legal fights — Taiwan’s civil society, led by TWRF, documented testimonies and pursued redress, which culminated in the museum’s initial opening in 2016.
3. Contemporary human-rights education — rotating programming links past abuses to present-day issues (e.g., anti-trafficking, gender equality, diverse families).

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## What you’ll see inside

Although compact, the permanent exhibition uses first-person testimonies, photographs, court filings, and period media to make the historical record legible and personal. Text is provided in Chinese and English; paid docent-led tours (Chinese/Japanese) are available by request—useful if you want deeper legal or policy framing.

Expect:

– Survivor life histories contextualized with maps and timelines.
– Documentation of activism from the 1990s onward, highlighting how NGOs, academics, and journalists preserved testimony in Taiwan.
– Topical programs that extend beyond WWII (e.g., exhibitions or talks on gender-based violence, intersectional equality, and family diversity).

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## Planning your visit

### Getting there
– MRT: Take the Tamsui–Xinyi (red) or Zhonghe–Xinlu (orange) lines to Minquan West Road. From Exit 5, it’s ~5 minutes on foot (note: Exit 5 has no elevator; Elevators available at Exits 1 or 6, ~8-minute walk).
– Buses: Several routes serve the “Datong Elementary School (大同國小)” stop along Chengde Rd. (e.g., 26, 280, 287, 306, 616, 618, 639, 756, 811, 966).

### Hours & tickets
– Open: Tue–Sat, 10:00–17:00. Check the museum’s calendar for special openings/closures.
– Admission: The English page lists General Admission “$30 NTD” (interpret as NT$30) and free entry for children under 6, seniors 65+, people with disabilities and one caregiver, and low-income visitors (bring documentation). If pricing is critical to your plan, verify on the day you go as websites sometimes lag behind policy updates.

### Accessibility & inclusivity notes
– Elevator access: Use Exits 1 or 6 at Minquan West Road for elevator access to street level; the museum itself is on 5F in a mixed-use building.
– Language: Exhibits include Chinese and English; guided tours available in Chinese/Japanese by booking.
– Content sensitivity: Exhibits discuss sexual violence and wartime trauma; visitor discretion is advised, especially for younger audiences. (This is stated by theme and evident from the museum’s mission pages.)

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## Context: relocation timeline (for avoiding bad directions)

– 2016–2020: The museum opened December 10, 2016 in a heritage house near Dihua Street (Datong), and became a regular stop for history-focused itineraries.
– Nov 7, 2020: Temporary closure due to pandemic impacts, finances, and a lease ending.
– Late 2021: Reopened at the Chengde Rd., Sec. 3 address (5F). Some listing sites still show the old Dihua St. address—ignore those.

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## Pair it with nearby sights (walkable)

The Chengde Road location sits between Dadaocheng and the Confucius/Bao’an Temples area—both excellent add-ons for a thematic day around heritage, belief, and social history. (This neighborhood context is noted by Taiwan’s museum directory and the museum’s own district description.)

– Dadaocheng & Dihua Street: Qing-era trade streets, tea shops, and textile houses—useful urban context for pre-war Taipei.
– Taipei Confucius Temple / Bao’an Temple: Two major historic temples a short ride away, often paired in cultural circuits of Datong District.

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## Practical tips with information gain

– Book a docent when possible. The museum’s team can tailor a paid guided tour (Chinese/Japanese). Researchers and educators will benefit from the primary-source depth and policy framing that’s hard to glean from labels alone.
– Cross-check hours monthly. The museum sometimes posts monthly calendars or updates on social channels; verify before you go, especially around holidays or special events.
– Use the elevator-equipped exits. If mobility is a concern, avoid Exit 5 at Minquan West Road (no elevator); choose Exit 1 or 6 and add 2–3 minutes of walking time.
– Mind content sensitivity. If visiting with teens or students, pre-brief the group. The museum’s focus is educational but includes accounts of gender-based violence; aligning expectations leads to better engagement.

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## Essential details (copy-and-keep)

– Address: 5F., No. 32, Sec. 3, Chengde Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City
(臺北市大同區承德路三段32號5樓)
– Nearest MRT: Minquan West Road (R/O lines) — Exit 5 (no elevator); Exits 1 or 6 (with elevators)
– Open: Tue–Sat, 10:00–17:00 (check calendar for updates)
– Phone / Email: +886-2-2553-7133 / [email protected]
– Official site: amamuseum.org.tw (English and Chinese pages)

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### Final accuracy note
If you encounter a listing showing “No. 256, Section 1, Dihua St.” it refers to the former venue—use the Chengde Rd. address above. This mismatch is common on older guidebooks and aggregator sites.

This guide prioritizes verified, current information from the museum’s official pages and Taiwan’s cultural directories. If you spot a discrepancy on a map app or OTA, default to the museum’s website and contact details above.

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