Travel
Cheese dessert lovers, take note: 4 popular Japanese cheesecakes and cheese tarts now in Taiwan
In recent years, Japanese cuisine has been making its way to Taiwan, with ramen shops being the most common. But lately, popular Japanese desserts have been arriving one after another. Beyond matcha specialists, there’s also a surge of cheese tarts and cheesecakes—great news for cheese dessert enthusiasts. ETtoday has rounded up 4 popular Japanese cheesecake and cheese tart shops that have come to Taiwan.
Top choice for pet-loving families traveling abroad: 3 popular pet-friendly hotels in Japan
Japan is arguably one of the most pet-friendly countries, with the "pet craze" continuing to boom. Japanese hotels offer a variety of facilities and thoughtful services tailored to the needs of pet owners, providing a comfortable resting place for both owners and their adorable pets. Rakuten Travel announced on the 29th a list of Japan’s "three most popular pet-friendly hotels" for travelers' reference.
Taiwan’s Largest Sunflower Maze Opens in Siaolin District, Kaohsiung Starting Feb. 5
Siaolin District in Kaohsiung City will once again host Taiwan’s largest sunflower maze this year on February 5. Covering a 3-hectare maze area and 25 hectares of blooming flowers, the 10-day event features attractions such as the Siaolin Sunflower Maze City, Meiyue Flower Field, and Siaolin Bridge Flower Field. In addition, activities like flower picking, prayer zones, local agricultural product sales, and romantic flower-viewing for couples will also take place.
【Editorial】Fuzhou City Direct Tourist Painted Bus to Huangqi Port Officially Launched
To provide tourists with convenient round-trip travel between Huangqi Port and downtown Fuzhou, through the joint efforts of tourism industry stakeholders in both Fuzhou and Matsu, a daily tourist painted bus service between Huangqi Port and downtown Fuzhou officially commenced on January 26. The bus will coordinate with the ferry schedule from Huangqi to Matsu to provide transfers for tourists. It operates daily between Fuzhou and Huangqi, with a one-way journey of approximately 1.5 hours, allowing easy exploration of Fuzhou.
The fourth Kura Sushi store confirmed to open at Linkou Mitsui Outlet Park, expected to launch in spring
Following its first three locations in Taipei’s Songjiang Nanjing, Taichung’s Guang San SOGO, and JC PARK in Zhongli (opened January 19), the fourth outlet of Japan’s top three conveyor belt sushi chain, Kura Sushi (くら寿司), has been spotted. On January 27, reporters discovered the under-construction Kura Sushi space on the basement level of the newly opened Mitsui Outlet Park. Fans of conveyor belt sushi in the Linkou area will soon be able to enjoy affordable, delicious sushi and try their luck with the exciting gashapon machines.
The "Momotaro Village" in Zhushan, Nantou Opens – A Taiwanese Version of the 2.5-Story Kumamoto Castle Debuts
The new attraction in Zhushan, Nantou, "Taiwan Film City - Momotaro Village," officially opened today (29th), attracting a sizable crowd despite the rainy weather. Covering an area of 5.8 hectares — 29 times larger than Xitou Monster Village — Momotaro Village features Japanese-style architecture such as a Japanese street, shrine, gassho-style village, and a 2.5-story Kumamoto Castle, which has also served as a filming location for many Taiwanese TV dramas.
Taipei’s New Creative Gua Bao – Stuffed with Bouncy Beef Meatballs
The gua bao specialty shop “Bao Bao,” located near Taipei Metro’s National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station, features a high-ceilinged first floor. As you walk in, you’re greeted by a spacious counter and kitchen area on one side, while local produce from small farms is displayed on the other. A bit further inside is the dining area. Everything looks so fresh and modern — it’s hard to associate it with traditional Taiwanese gua bao.
Mountain cherry blossoms are about 50% in bloom—don’t miss the best time to admire them at Baishan National Forest Recreation Area in Taichung, where birds fill the air with songs
Another hidden gem for cherry blossom viewing: the mountain cherry blossoms in Baishan National Forest Recreation Area have begun to bloom, painting the park in vibrant hues. Currently, around 50% of the blossoms are open. The Dongshi Forest District Office reports that late January to early February is the optimal period for cherry blossom viewing—don’t miss your chance to head into the park and enjoy the blooms, Up！
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at top steakhouses – A collection of 3 steakhouse specials
Want a romantic dinner for two this Valentine’s Day? Three top-tier steakhouses in Taiwan—Morton’s Steakhouse, Laurence Restaurant, and N°168 Steakhouse—are offering special Valentine’s packages. Morton’s Steakhouse, in particular, boasts stunning views of Taipei 101, ensuring a perfect Valentine’s memory.
Tired of spicy hot pot and small hot pots? Choose from 6 unique hot pot restaurants
Hot pot is no longer just a seasonal dish—whether in the cold winter or hot summer, it remains a popular choice. But if you're always having either spicy hot pot or small hot pots, aren't you a bit bored? We recommend these 6 unique hot pot restaurants, offering Thai, Korean, Cantonese, Mongolian hot pot, and more. Find some time to try these distinctive hot pot spots soon!
The Taitung Tourism Service Center stays open during the Lunar New Year and gives out Spring Festival couplets too!
No service suspension during the Spring Festival holiday. From February 6 to February 14, the tourism service centers at Taitung’s train stations, airports, and the Taitung Transfer Station will operate as usual, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Timely & Creative: DIY "Rabbit God" Latte Art at Cafés in Just 5 Steps
Taipei's Lantern Festival centerpiece, the "Rabbit God," has recently sparked a heated discussion in Taiwan, with netizens creating parody images, animations, and even apps. Today (30th), a café owner got creative and developed a "Rabbit God" latte art, using milk foam to outline the character’s body and expressive eyes. The steps are simple, and the result is super cute.
Romance Under the Music: Taitung Cultural Broadway Winter Vacation Performance Guide
The nights at the National Taitung Living Arts Center’s “Cultural Broadway” get more beautiful as the evening deepens. During the 2016 winter vacation, there will be wonderful performances every Friday and Saturday from 7:30–9:00 PM. Friends in Taitung City, make the most of your weekend holidays—parents, take your kids outdoors and head to Cultural Broadway to enjoy a romantic and joyful night for the whole family.
Affordable Japanese Canteen in Dazhi Alley – Juicy Japanese-Style Hamburgers
On Saturday afternoon, I went to see *Sherlock Holmes: The Abominable Bride* with Meijie at Miramar Mega Mall in Dazhi. After the movie around 5 PM, we originally planned to grab a quick bite at the mall, but since we had just eaten at Café&Meal MUJI last time and didn’t feel like trying another new place, we decided to explore the area near Shih Chien University. We’d dined at this Daming Canteen two years ago—it was very busy back then and left a pretty good impression on us.
Travelers, take note: Yen weakens, NT dollar strengthens — buy a hair dryer and save NT$246
For those planning to travel to Japan during the Lunar New Year holiday, the Japanese yen has gotten even cheaper again. The Bank of Japan has announced the implementation of negative interest rates, which has driven up the value of Asian currencies including the New Taiwan Dollar. Last week, NT$10,000 could only be exchanged for 34,000 yen, but now you can get 35,500 yen — that's an increase of 1,500 yen, making shopping and theme park spending among other things “even more affordable.”
The Love River is even more beautiful at night！The “Fantasy Light Band Show” on Kaohsiung Bridge is incredibly eye-catching
Located on the Love River, Kaohsiung Bridge transforms as night falls, making a dramatic entrance before visitors like a costume show.
Cherry Blossom Season Travel Made Easy in April – Vanilla Air Japan Flights “Round-Trip with Tax” for Just NT$3,221
Vanilla Air announced that it will launch the “Bear Buy Early” spring and summer flight promotion across all routes starting at 9:00 AM on February 1, featuring one-way tickets as low as NT$1,088. The discounted destinations include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Busan, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, as well as Tokyo (Haneda) and Ibaraki, which are set to begin service in March. (Prices exclude tax)
Boasts a modern transparent toilet and is a century-old Viennese coffeehouse with enduring charm
"I'm either in a café or on my way to one." This line is undoubtedly familiar to all coffee lovers and was once part of a conversation between me and my friends. It actually originates from Austrian poet Peter Altenberg, whose full quote is: "If I'm not at home, I'm in a café; if I'm not in a café, I'm on my way to one."
The clothes look like they’re floating — Pingtung debuts Taiwan’s first 3D painted rice field featuring Pili puppets, with Shi Wenshan as the star
Pingtung has unveiled another new painted rice field, officially opening today (30th) at the Pingtung Tropical Agriculture Expo. Featuring 3D Pili puppet totems, the artwork showcases intricate facial expressions and the dynamic movement of flowing garments on the rice paddies, instantly attracting crowds for viewing and discussion.
Monthly salary of 73K NT dollars！Cool Bird Airlines has an air hostess recruitment acceptance rate of just 2%. Even Korean girls are flying in to compete for the jobs
Since launching its Taipei–Bangkok route at the end of 2015, Cool Bird Airlines is recruiting flight attendants in Taiwan for the first time this year and is offering a high salary of 75,000 Thai baht per month (approximately 73,140 New Taiwan dollars), which is significantly higher than the around 50,000 NT dollars typically offered by budget airlines. As a result, nearly 500 people applied, with only an estimated 10 to 15 expected to successfully pass the selection process, giving an acceptance rate of only about 2–3%.