During the Japanese-ruling period, the Hsinchu City Glass Museum served as a guesthouse and ballroom for Japanese royal members and high officials on their inspection visits to Taiwan.

After Taiwan was recovered from the Japanese, the building was converted to provide accommodation for military officers. The architectural features of the museum today is that it combines a European-courtyard style along with an elegant and austere Eastern style art installation.

Hsinchu is the center of glass-manufacturing industry since the age of Japanese governance. The focus of local industry has slowly shifted to glass art because of changing times and markets. Right now, this museum introduces information regarding Hsinchu glass art, including its primary product characteristic, raw material, manufacturing and production procedures.