Travel
Adorably Cute Alert: Taichung’s “Shiba Inu”-Shaped Onigiri, Limited to 20 per Day
Attention all Shiba Inu fans—not just Shiba Inu floating coffee or Shiba Inu mochi, here comes another super cute Shiba Inu-themed food item. A new Japanese restaurant has recently popped up in Taichung’s Zhongzheng First Senior High School Commercial Area, and with skills rivaling those of a Japanese mom, they’ve crafted onigiri shaped like Shiba Inu faces.
Wagyu cheek glazed with wine served with steamed buns? Witness the ultimate skills of a Michelin-starred chef
The ultimate flavor of cuisine is crafted through meticulous cooking techniques. "Yuluxuan," created by Lawrence Ho, son of Macau’s gambling tycoon Stanley Ho, was awarded one Michelin star in 2014. This time, Chef Tam Kwok-fung, with 30 years of experience, leads his culinary team to Taiwan to showcase their artistry. From appetizers to main courses and even desserts, every dish is a delightful surprise for the palate.
The aroma wafts out with the steam—thick, golden pancakes with a rich, dense texture.
I remember when I was little, my mom never let me touch coffee. I think she was worried the caffeine would keep me up at night. I was already a handful during the day—how could anyone handle an even more hyper kid at night? XDD So, I was always super curious about the smell of coffee, but I never even got to try a can of Braun coffee.
Showcasing the beauty of Kaohsiung to the world — “Incredible Kaohsiung” lights up Times Square
With the warm invitation from Mayor Chen Chu, the vibrant and passionate spirit of Kaohsiung made its way to New York. At 3:00 PM Taiwan time on March 18, it appeared on the LED screen beneath the iconic crystal ball in New York’s Times Square — allowing the world to witness the stunning landscapes of Kaohsiung’s mountains, seas, rivers, and harbor.
A relaxing afternoon tea time at a castle café with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Guishan Island
It’s been many years since I last visited Yilan. Though I haven’t explored many of its attractions, I was still very much looking forward to this trip and had done plenty of research. After visiting the Lanyang Museum, we headed to “Brookstone Castle Café,” just a 3–5 minute drive away. Unlike typical outdoor scenic restaurants, this elegant castle-like building made us feel as if we had stepped into a foreign land.
Attention, Kaohsiung residents！Kumamon makes an appearance
The Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau will host a special event at 11:00 AM on March 23 at the Waterfront Plaza of Shoushan Zoo, featuring the zoo’s star mascot Super Animal alongside Japan’s super-popular Kumamoto Prefecture mascot KUMAMON. Together they’ll show off their dance moves to promote animal adoption and conservation awareness. Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau Director Hsu Chuan-sheng noted that Japanese tourists are the second-largest visitor group to Taiwan. This exchange event with Kumamoto Prefecture also includes a scenic tour and food trip in Kaohsiung specially arranged for Japanese industry professionals and media.
Take a leap from the “Okura Ski Jump Stadium” and plunge into the stunning scenery of Sapporo
Have you ever felt the urge to dive headfirst into the city lights when gazing at the glittering homes of a metropolis from above? The Okura Ski Jump Stadium in Hokkaido was once the venue for ski jumping competitions during the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics. Since then, it has hosted numerous ski jumping events. Whether viewed from the base looking up or from the top looking down, the varied perspectives make it a popular sightseeing spot.
The cat shopkeeper hiding in a second-hand bookstore in Paris
Today is the last day of the month again, just as gloomy as usual. It’s the first time since arriving in Paris that I didn’t wake up in the early morning—I slept all the way until eight. Maybe it was because I stayed up late drinking red wine last night, or perhaps it was because of the constant “
The Gold Coast Marathon in Australia has been awarded Gold Label certification
The Gold Coast Marathon will take place on July 5 and 6, and earlier this year, it was just awarded the Road Race Gold Label certification by World Athletics (formerly IAAF), meaning this event has become one of the world’s top road races.
Christmas romantic light seas aren’t only in Japan — Thailand’s “million LEDs” light up the night in a super romantic display
Romantic Christmas light seas in Asia aren’t only found in Japan. This year, Thailand also held the 2017 Thailand Illumination Festival. In addition to becoming a new romantic attraction, it’s also a charity event, with all proceeds donated to charitable foundations. Millions of LED lights will illuminate Bangkok’s night.
Raffles Istanbul Hotel to Open This Summer – A Blend of Classic Elegance and Modern Style
The Raffles Istanbul, a high-end hotel at the forefront of its time that seamlessly blends classic charm with modern style, is set to open this summer, sure to dazzle all visitors. Located on the European peninsula extending into Turkey, the hotel is situated in the Zorlu Center in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district. It combines fashion, fine dining, and art, while offering stunning views of the beautiful Bosphorus Strait, the Princess Islands, and this historically rich peninsula.
Would you dare to stay here? A cliffside mountain hut in Switzerland with breathtaking views
In addition to providing rest for hikers, mountain huts also serve as emergency shelters. The "Solvay Hut," a small wooden cabin located on the northeast side of the Matterhorn in Switzerland, sits atop a high mountain at 13,000 feet. What makes it particularly unique is that it is perched right on the edge of a cliff—venturing too far outward could have dire consequences. However, from this vantage point, visitors can enjoy the stunning surrounding mountain scenery, and the snow-covered landscape in winter is especially mesmerizing.
Peach blossoms and tulips blanket the mountains — step into the dreamlike "Meifeng" to seek the fragrance
It’s truly a world of flowers! Nantou’s National Taiwan University Mountain Experimental Farm "Meifeng" is currently ablaze with blossoms, including honey peach flowers, tulips, and Phalaenopsis aphrodite subsp. formosana. Among them, the "Peach Blossom Paradise Corridor," a semi-arched tunnel woven from peach tree branches and leaves, exudes an overwhelmingly romantic atmosphere, attracting many visitors to stop and take photos. The farm says the best time for flower viewing lasts until the end of March, and the public is encouraged to seize the opportunity.
Japan’s hottest mascot makes an appearance – Kumamon from Kumamoto does fitness aerobics at Shoushan Park
Kumamon from Kumamoto appears in Kaohsiung！At 11 a.m. today (23rd), Kumamon, the super-popular bear mascot from Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan, showed up at Shoushan Zoo, attracting hundreds of people who specially came to queue up. On-site, Kumamon also joined forces with its “bear buddy” at Shoushan Zoo to jointly promote the animal adoption campaign and raise awareness about wildlife conservation.
Welcoming the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage: 20-Meter-Tall Chibi Mazu Appears at Qiuhong Valley
One of Taiwan’s largest annual religious events, the “Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage,” will commence on April 6. To coincide with this grand occasion, the Dajia Zhenlan Temple has specially created a 20-meter-tall chibi (cute cartoon-style) Mazu, along with 18-meter-tall chibi versions of the “Thousand-Mile Eye” and “Wind-Following Ear” deity balloons. These figures have been on display in Taichung’s Qiuhong Valley Park since the 22nd for one week, aiming to bring spiritual peace and blessings to the public through the imagery of the three deities.
Domestic off-peak air tickets Expected 50%–70% discounts after June
Domestic airfares have risen by about 10% since 2014. The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has confirmed that the standardized domestic air ticket contract template will be revised, with the refund deadline shortened. Airlines will have greater flexibility to offer off-peak air tickets at less than 70% of the original price before the end of June. The CAA estimates that discounted off-peak domestic airfares at 50%–70% could be available in the future, with a final decision expected by the end of June.
The side dishes are even better than the signature beef noodles—the tripe is refreshing without being greasy, and the thick-cut beef is tender and soft.
I often pass by this shop, and every time I see it doing quite well in business. A couple of netizens who live or work nearby have also recommended it, but I never got the chance to sit down and try it—until that day when I finished a meal with Xiao Dao, who had nothing else to do all day, and he said he’d take me for “afternoon tea,” so here we were.
Japan’s Three Great Thatched Cottage Villages: Fukushima’s Ouchi-juku Preserves Edo-Era Village Charm
Japan’s three great thatched cottage villages are Fukushima Prefecture’s Ouchi-juku, Kyoto Prefecture’s Miyama, and Gifu Prefecture’s Shirakawa-go’s Gassho Village. Taiwanese travelers most often visit Shirakawa-go, but this time, the destination of YouShang’s northeastern trip was the equally renowned Ouchi-juku.
A place I’ve never heard of before... Guhou Fishing Port
This time I came to Guhou Fishing Port in Wanli, New Taipei City—a place I’d never heard of before. I heard the water here is very clear and the scenery is beautiful, but the beach is piled high with trash, which made me even more curious to sneak a peek at this seascape.
Showcase the most beautiful Taiwan in your eyes – The “Japan-Taiwan Photo Contest” runs all year round
Many foreign travelers who have visited Taiwan have said, “The most beautiful sight in Taiwan is its people.” So what is the most beautiful view of Taiwan in the eyes of us Taiwanese? The “Japan-Taiwan Photo Contest,” organized by the Taiwan Visitors Association, the Japan Tourism Promotion Agency, and the Japan Association of Travel Agents, invites everyone to recommend the most beautiful sights in Taiwan and Japan through their photos.