What comes to mind when you think of Kyoto’s “Kiyomizu-dera”? Is it the solemn grandeur of the wooden main hall and the Kiyomizu Stage, or the always bustling crowds on Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka? If you’ve experienced the hustle and bustle of visitors at Kiyomizu-dera firsthand, then the photos on the official Instagram account of Kiyomizu-dera will take you into a world of a majestic and tranquil ancient mountain temple.
Australian celebrity chef Peter Gilmore is known for blending French influences into creative Australian cuisine. He runs the Quay restaurant by Sydney Harbour, which has been ranked No. 1 on the online “Top 10 Restaurants in Australia” list. From October 13 to 17, Taipei Mandarin Oriental Hotel has invited Peter Gilmore for a guest appearance. The 8-course dinner is priced at NT$15,000, and the 6-course lunch at NT$8,900.
Fried noodles, pig’s blood soup, and pork rice are truly classic representations of Central Taiwan’s street food staples. You can find shops serving them open 24/7. Once you get used to them, having fried noodles and pig’s blood soup for breakfast will leave you feeling energized, not to mention how a bowl of pork rice before bed helps you sleep soundly XD. If you live around SOGO in West District, the pork rice spots you can find after midnight are probably Songxiang and Night Department.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner, and you still haven’t decided where to admire the moon? The Wushantou Reservoir Scenic Area in Tainan might be a great choice for you. With its combination of mountains and water, the open space in the scenic area is free from light pollution, making the Mid-Autumn moon even more stunning. Every year on Mid-Autumn night, the area attracts many visitors who linger there and enjoy themselves, making it also an ideal spot for a romantic date.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of the Interior, based on Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the "Regulations Governing Mainland Residents’ Entry into Taiwan for Tourism Purposes," adjustments will be made today (September 21) to several items related to individual travel by Mainland Chinese tourists to Taiwan, increasing the daily quota from 4,000 to 5,000.
Beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hokkaido, and Okinawa, Kyushu is also a great choice in Japan. So what’s fun to do in Kyushu?
Come and vote for your favorite friendly homestay. To enhance the quality and image of Taiwan’s homestays, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications launched the “Friendly Homestay Taiwan Host” certification program, inviting the public to vote on the official event website to select the best-quality friendly homestays across Taiwan.
Shōun Ryūrin in Taiwan is about to celebrate its first anniversary. Chef Yamamoto Zenji, the three-Michelin-starred chef from Japan’s Ryūrin, will lead his team from Japan to Taiwan. From October 2 to October 4, they will host a three-day premium dining event called “Autumn Expedition Banquet,” with a price of NT$20,000 per person. As Shōun Ryūrin only offers dinner service with 36 seats, there are only 108 spots available for the three-day Autumn Expedition Banquet.
At the invitation of a friend, I also took three trial sets, naively thinking that since I’m not someone who overeats, and with my good habit of eating small, regular meals and consistently maintaining an exercise routine, I should be able to discipline myself to finish the full three-day program. But I decided to stop after just the first day.
To celebrate the Mid-Autumn holiday, the Chu Weiming Art Museum has launched a series of festive activities from September 26 to September 28. In honor of Teachers' Day, all teachers across Taiwan can enter the museum free of charge by presenting valid identification during this period.
The renowned nostalgic Hong Kong restaurant “Jasmine,” which was once used to film Wong Kar-wai’s famous movies “2046” and “In the Mood for Love,” has suddenly announced its closure after 53 years. A sign on the restaurant’s exterior reads: “We couldn’t walk with you to 2046, but we were honored to spend our In the Mood for Love years with you.” The announcement has left many local food lovers filled with regret.
Taiwan’s largest light projection show in 2014 brought the National Taichung Theater to life at night, leaving an unforgettable impression. This year, the Taichung Light Art Festival is back, debuting Taiwan’s largest-ever “spherical water light projection show,” which kicks off on October 3 at the Lake Heart Pavilion in Taichung Park. Through an interplay of light and shadow, it tells the story of old Taichung’s former glory.
The Scenic Area Management Section of Nantou County Government’s Tourism Bureau stated that in order to enhance visitors’ travel experience, Nantou’s Tianti Scenic Area will begin construction after 12 noon on the 23rd. The park will be temporarily closed during this period. Visitors are advised not to enter the construction site to avoid potential hazards. We kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation.
Sukonthan Buffet's all-you-can-eat Thai hot pot, with its wide selection of ingredients and traditional Thai-style hot pot, has always been attractive to me. After three years away, I revisited it — the environment remains the same, but the feeling is totally different.
Japanese-style curry Izumi Curry from Osaka will officially open on October 1 on B3 of Taipei Main Station Fashion Mall. Each oversized 12-ounce cheeseburger at Izumi Curry is hand-formed by chefs and served with their signature, slow-cooked 48-hour thick curry sauce.
Can you make a vehicle out of salt? Taiwan's first-ever "Salt-Sculpted Heritage Locomotive" combining salt and history made its debut on the 21st at Qigu Salt Mountain, symbolizing "salt-preserving culture" and "salt-keeping memories," complementing the vintage locomotives on display in the exhibit area.
In recent years, Taiwan Railways has been implementing the Taiwan Railways Urbanization Project. To better serve residents in the Shulin area, a new simplified railway station has been added between Shulin Station and Shanjia Station, named “Nanshulin Station.” Taiwan Railways stated that the station is expected to open by the end of November at the earliest, and once operational, it will only take 25 minutes to reach Taipei Main Station.
In addition to implementing two-phase traffic controls at the water gate, general roads, expressways, and Zhongxiao Bridge, Taipei City Government has temporarily suspended operations at the Yongle Market Station of YouBike. The Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems has also planned two shuttle bus lines to transport fireworks spectators, and the public is advised to use public transportation to avoid traffic congestion caused by private vehicles.
HK Express announces special fares for Taichung–Hong Kong routes from September 22 to September 28, with one-way tickets priced at just HK$120.
When it comes to Kyoto’s matcha sundaes, “Tsuruya Rokujuen” is probably the first name that comes to mind. But actually, Kyoto has many other renowned matcha dessert shops that rival Tsuruya Rokujuen, and today’s featured spot, “ぎをん 小森” (Gion Kosuke / yG Garden Kosuke), is one of them!