Travel
Visit Kyoto’s Shosei Café and enjoy a relaxing afternoon.
CAFE KOCSI (カフェ コチ) is located near Kyoto City Hall. The area around City Hall and along Sanjō-dōri is Kyoto’s prime café and restaurant district—so packed that there’s seemingly a restaurant every three steps and a café every five. Several well-known cafés and dessert shops are located here, such as the previously introduced “Fire Lotus” and “Matsunosuke Honpo,” making it one of Kyoto’s top café hubs.
Best Summer Destinations 2014: New Attractions & Special Events at Tokyo Disneyland
Summer vacation is approaching—have you decided where to go? Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea will launch a variety of exciting activities in 2014, including brand-new entertainment shows, special events, and unique programs. From now until the end of the year, a series of different events will be rolled out non-stop. ETtoday Eastday News has compiled information on Disney events to serve as a reference for travelers planning a trip to the theme parks.
One bite and memories come flooding back — the nostalgic ice cream has a rich, smooth texture and a wide variety of flavors.
This Lianfa Taro Ice is truly an old shop that’s been around for ages. The ice they sell is similar to the classic "baba bing," which refers to the kind of ice peddled by street vendors. Back in the day, there were no ice creams, sorbets, or frozen yogurts — so this is the real deal in terms of old-school ice treats. Located on Qingyun Road in Toucheng, it sits right across from the famous A-Zong Ice City. As soon as you step into the store, you’ll be struck by how vibrant and colorful it is.
Tokyo’s Oddly Named Hotel Is Literally Called “Non-Smokers”! Smokers Fined ¥50,000 for Staying
Taiwan has enforced a comprehensive smoking ban in national scenic areas since April this year, with exceptions only in designated zones. But one Tokyo hotel named Nonsmokers Hotel takes it a step further by outright refusing to accommodate “people who smoke.” That means if you’re a smoker, you’ll have to look elsewhere for a place to stay.
Enjoy indigenous sausages and tribal music concerts — Stay at Taroko Grand Formosa for just 3,499 TWD
As summer sunlight paints the land in vibrant hues, this season is perfect for soaking up sunshine and holidays. From June 21 to August 31, Taroko Grand Formosa Hotel is launching the “Summer Splash One Night Two Meals Stay Package.” For groups of two or more, the price starts from 3,499 TWD per person on weekdays, and includes one night in a Mountain Mist Room, buffet breakfast, a choice between a Chinese set dinner or a Western buffet dinner, nighttime indigenous barbecue sausages, a tribal music concert, free use of hotel facilities, and more.
A massive public bamboo art installation, "The Bamboo Weaving House by the Azure Lake," intertwines 4,000 bamboo poles into a castle of the soul in Neihu
Nestled by mountains and water, and together with Da Hu Park known as the “Neihu Twin Jewels,” Bi Hu Park now features a large-scale bamboo-woven public art piece — “The Bamboo Weaving House by the Azure Lake.” Created for the first time through a collaboration between internationally renowned landscape artist Wang Wen-chih and local community residents, the artwork is crafted from 4,000 bamboo poles and took one and a half months to complete. It will be on display from the 21st through the end of the year.
Creative Tofu Pudding Showdown: "Osmanthus Pineapple Tofu Pudding" Crowned National Champion
The "2014 Taiwan Summer Solstice 235 Event," organized by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, officially kicked off on this year’s summer solstice (June 21). To build up excitement for the summer solstice event, the bureau also held the "Creative Tofu Pudding Showdown" from late May to mid-June. The championship title was ultimately won by the Osmanthus Pineapple Tofu Pudding from Fodu in Tainan, with the runner-up being the Old-Fashioned Brown Sugar Slush Tofu Pudding from Aishanwu in Chiayi, and the third place going to the Creative Fried Tofu Pudding from Xiaohuixia in Dounan.
Choose from Japanese hotels at will！Fujita Kanko Group recruits sleep testers—just have a Facebook account to apply
Fujita Kanko Group, which operates nearly 60 hotels and tourist facilities across Japan, has chosen Taiwan as the first stop in its push to expand its overseas business. Today (17th), it actively launched promotional efforts, creating an exclusive Traditional Chinese website and fan page for Taiwan called “The Tales of Fujita Manor.” At the same time, to help more travelers get to know the brand, it is launching the “All-Japan Hotel Sleep Tester Recruitment,” targeting Taiwanese tourists. As long as you have plans to travel to Japan, you can apply！
Special Limited Editions in Collaboration with Tainan’s Time-Honored Shops: A Complete Guide to Must-Buy Items at Laiyi Department Store
The newly reopened Laiyi Department Store, with its long history spanning 82 years, has become an important new cultural landmark in Tainan. From its exterior to its interior, every detail contains historical stories from the past to the present, making it highly worth exploring. 《ETtoday Eastday News Cloud》 recently revealed the must-see architectural highlights inside Laiyi Department Store. This article will introduce the various products, displays, and Laiyi-exclusive merchandise that have been created through collaborations with cultural and creative industries.
There are no seasonal restrictions for sightseeing in Nara – in winter, you can even enjoy sunbathing with wild deer.
Winter in Japan is cold, flowers have withered, and even leaves have all fallen, leaving only bare branches lining the streets. Though winter may not be the best season to visit Japan, it is one of the few times when those of us in Taiwan, blessed with long holidays, can take extended time off to travel. That’s why we still came to Japan in winter, and that’s also how we had the chance to visit the ancient capital of Nara, famous for its deer – because sightseeing in Nara knows no seasonal bounds.
Cathay Pacific celebrates 55 years in Taiwan — upload a photo and text to win one of 55 round-trip tickets to Hong Kong
By July 2014, Cathay Pacific will have served Taiwan for 55 years. To celebrate this 55th anniversary, the airline launched the “Celebrate 55” photo and text campaign from June 18 to July 11 at 12:00 noon, inviting the public to post celebratory photos and text on Cathay Pacific’s Taiwan Facebook page for a chance to win round-trip tickets between Taiwan and Hong Kong — a total of 55 prizes will be given away.
Berlin Fashion Week is coming – Booking sites offer 25% off accommodations
Founded in 2007, Berlin Fashion Week may be relatively new compared to other long-established international fashion weeks in Europe and America, but this year marks its 8th edition. Each year, numerous highly creative young designers emerge, leading to rapid growth in both the scale and influence of the event. In response to the growing excitement, some booking platforms are offering a 25% discount on accommodations in Berlin.
Ride the "Tanaka" Mercedes-Benz vibe with your kids: cycling, DIY socks, and corn turned into dolls
What kind of city is your hometown? A small town? How many of those everyday life details you grew up with still remain ten or twenty years later in the present or future? We can’t capture these moments or share them with our children through just one photo, one video, or one spoken story—even those details that are starting to blur even for us. As the world keeps spinning forward, do you, like me, find yourself longing for those fields and the tangible, heartfelt sensations of touching things with your own hands?
The Mao Gong Ding won’t be lent out, but the National Palace Museum’s Jadeite Cabbage is heading to Japan for a short-term exhibition starting today.
A total of 231 sets of artifacts from the National Palace Museum will go on display at the Tokyo National Museum and Kyushu National Museum in Japan starting on the 24th. Confirmed items on loan include popular exhibits such as the Jadeite Cabbage and the Meat-Shaped Stone. Prior to finalizing the exhibition list, Japan had submitted a wishlist of dream artifacts to the museum. Although the late Western Zhou Dynasty “Mao Gong Ding” was ultimately not lent, many other national treasures—such as the Jade Eagle Pattern Gui, and the San Pan—were included. This marks the largest-scale lending of artifacts from the Palace Museum in Asia’s history.
Peanut ice cream rolls and fried taro balls – British media praise: Taiwan’s street food is the best in the world
Taiwan’s night markets are already internationally renowned. In mid-May this year, UK news website theguardian sent reporter Audrey Gillan to experience them firsthand, and she wrote that “Taiwan’s night market snacks are the best in the world.” She described how as soon as she entered Ningxia Night Market, she headed straight for the taro ball stall. She said her companion also advised, “Whenever you see a queue in Taiwan, just join in and buy from that shop!”
Promoting Taiwan’s Night Market Culture: North America’s Largest “626 Night Market” Heads to Downtown LA
Taiwan’s night market culture is renowned worldwide, and this cultural wave reached Los Angeles—thousands of miles from Taiwan—as early as 2012. The largest Asian night market in North America, the “626 Night Market,” which takes place every summer, will this year take over downtown Los Angeles to further showcase Taiwan’s night market culture.
Results of the "Pingxi Mini-Trip" Essay Contest Announced; Winners Receive Limited-Edition Yuanbao Sky Lanterns
Ettoday Dongsen News Cloud and New Taipei City Government Tourism Bureau jointly held the "Pingxi Mini-Trip Essay Activity" from May 1 to May 31, inviting participants to share their travel experiences in Pingxi. After a month of submissions, 10 readers including Lin, Matcha Tuna Egg, and Confucius were selected as "Winners" and will each receive one "Yuanbao Sky Lantern" and one "Police Officer Wish Sky Lantern" to release; additionally, Wu Yichun, Wayne Chen, Paul Chen, and others received "Participation Awards," each receiving one "Yuanbao Sky Lantern."
The lineup for the Gongliao Ocean Music Festival has been announced: A-Mei and Cheer Chen are on the list
The upcoming New Taipei City Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival, set to rock from July 9 to 13, today (June 18) unveiled its performing artist lineup, featuring singers such as MATZKA, Chang Chen-yue, Yang Nai-wen, Cheer Chen, Lü Kuang-chung, and a MEI.
Combining Off-the-Beaten-Path Working Holidays – The Bunun “Infant Ceremony” to Take Place on the 21st
Following the Bunun Ear-Shooting Festival comes the Bunun Infant Ceremony. On June 21, the Infant Ceremony will be held in the Erjitu Tribe, featuring elders sharing the origins of the festival, the Infant Ceremony rituals, a chorus of ancient songs by hundreds, a special local cuisine feast, and traditional skills competitions (including weight-carrying, archery, sawing wood, and spinning tops). There will also be a volunteer and cultural experience activity titled “A Journey to the Hidden Bunun Land – alung Off-the-Beaten-Path Working Holiday.” The public is encouraged to take this opportunity to explore the mountains.
Japanese food, medicine, and cosmetics purchases over 5,000 yen are now tax-free — effective October 1
Japan raised its consumption tax from 5% to 8% starting April 1, leading to price hikes across food, clothing, housing, and transportation. To mitigate the impact on tourism, the Japanese government has introduced new tax exemption policies. In addition to previously exempt items like electronics and clothing, food, beverages, medicines, and cosmetics are now also eligible for tax exemption if the total purchase exceeds 5,000 yen. The policy is expected to take effect on October 1.