Travel
Here's your guide to cherry blossom viewing in Japan: 8 must-visit spots in Tokyo
The beauty of Japan’s cherry blossoms is renowned worldwide. Are you ready to witness this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle? As the capital city, Tokyo is a top travel destination for many visitors to Japan, and it boasts numerous famous cherry blossom viewing spots. Every spring, these locations attract throngs of tourists on a pilgrimage. Below is a list of 8 popular cherry blossom spots in Tokyo.
Lobsters Bigger Than Your Face | q Grilled Lobsters Too Huge for the Grill Plate
A 4-kilogram lobster can be prepared in three ways: the head steamed, the claws salt-grilled directly, and the body split between salt-grilled and q grilled—or choose one of the two. Such a massive lobster naturally comes with a high price tag—at 6,000 NTD per lobster. The owner says that an ordinary Boston lobster in the market weighs about 600 grams (roughly 1 jin), and even that sells for over 1,000 NTD.
Jurassic Realism: Costa Rica’s Prehistoric Wonderland & Leaves as Big as Umbrellas
The setting of the original "Jurassic Park" novel is based in Costa Rica, so travel expert Robert recommends two hidden gems where fans can experience an otherworldly “prehistoric landscape,” including leaves as large as umbrellas—dubbed the “poor man’s umbrella”—which indigenous people once used for rain protection. He said, “This place is truly Jurassic World, minus the dinosaurs!”
Want to see cherry blossoms? Wait a bit longer! The 300 Yoshino cherry trees at Tamsui Tianyuan Temple are expected to bloom in mid-March.
Tamsui Tianyuan Temple, a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in northern Taiwan, has seen its Yoshino cherry blossoms delayed this year due to an exceptionally cold wave. It is estimated that the Yoshino cherry trees at Tianyuan Temple will not fully bloom until mid-March, so those planning to go cherry blossom viewing will have to wait a little longer!
What if you’re dying to go “camping”? Here’s the ultimate beginner’s lazy guide you must check out.
After taking the non-return trip into camping, family and friends gradually joined in too. One day, while chatting with my sister about my Pixnet blog, she actually asked me to write a “beginner’s camping lazy guide.” As someone who usually writes about camping life, I never thought about how to organize such a guide. But for my own sister, I went all out!! Based on my experience from 34 camping trips, I wrote it word by word with great care.
Do you really understand what a low-cost carrier is? Read this to break through the misconceptions.
The English term for a low-cost airline is Low-cost Carrier (often abbreviated as LCC; other terms include Low-cost Airline or Budget Airline). It refers to an airline that reduces the range of services offered in order to lower its operating costs compared to traditional airlines.
Revival Airlines' Domestic Route Spokesperson "Peng Jinhua" Makes Debut – Up to 50% Off on Selected Routes
To actively tap into domestic tourism opportunities, Revival Airlines has introduced its first-ever virtual spokesperson, "Peng Jinhua," since the airline's inception. The name is derived from three of its domestic destinations: Penghu, Kinmen, and Hualien. Starting today, "Peng Jinhua" will make appearances at major domestic airports, while selected domestic routes are now available at up to 50% off. Round-trip tickets between Taipei and Kinmen start from NT$1,111, while Hualien and Makung routes are available for just over NT$1,000. The lowest price for Taipei–Hualien is NT$777.
Japan’s ultra-popular sugar-free chocolate is only available at pharmacies — here’s why
Japanese desserts and snacks come in a wide variety, and just browsing convenience stores can burn a hole in your wallet. Recently, a new sugar-free chocolate called Dr's Chocolate has become a hot topic in Japan because it’s “only available at pharmacies or hospital clinics!”
Big Guns Unleashed: Meifu Steakhouse Launches Australian Wagyu AA11 Grade New York Strip
Fresh & Aged Meifu Dry-Aged Steakhouse has launched a new series of American and Australian Wagyu steaks paired with delicious seafood such as lobster and scallops, available in single, double, or triple portions. The highlight is the AA11 grade Wagyu New York strip steak from AACO Kobe Cuisine, Australia’s most renowned Wagyu brand. The 14-ounce two-person set is priced at NT$4,500.
New Chairman of Tigerair Taiwan, Dong Xiaohang, Assumes Office Today
The new chairman of Tigerair Taiwan is Dong Xiaohang, senior vice president of China Airlines. The appointment ceremony was held today (1st), with China Airlines Chairman Sun Hongxiang announcing
No more scalpers！ Starting July, Tokyo’s “Ghibli Museum” to implement named-ticket system
The “Ghibli Museum Mitaka,” a must-visit for Studio Ghibli fans in Tokyo, will introduce a named-ticket system from July to prevent scalping. This means that tickets will be printed with the buyer’s name, and visitors must present ID when entering. Those who are not the ticket holder may be denied entry.
A Traditional Taiwanese Eatery Serving Homestyle Braised Beef Pot and Crispy-Yet-Tender Fried Tofu
They offer both set meals and à la carte options, with a minimum spend of NT$50 per person—ordering just one dish meets the requirement, so no problem there. Even on regular weekdays, the place sees quite a crowd, with every seat filled during mealtimes. Business is booming.
The filming location of Kiki's Delivery Service！Discover the black cat Jiji in Croatia’s seaside ancient city
The seaside city in the Japanese Studio Ghibli animated film Kiki's Delivery Service, which captivated the heart of the protagonist Kiki and left audiences yearning for it, is actually located in Croatia — the “Dubrovnik”! Nestled along the Adriatic coast, this ancient city stands majestically apart from the world. Amidst its winding alleys, many stray cats can also be spotted, attracting numerous fans of the movie to make a pilgrimage here in search of their own “black cat Jiji.”
A magical cat house has appeared at a 7-Eleven in Douliu — cats can even reach out from the walls to shake hands
Convenience stores taken over by cats: A chain convenience store in Douliu, Yunlin, has used 3D painting techniques to vividly depict various cats on its walls, dubbing it the “Magic Cat House.” Stepping into the store feels like entering a fairy tale book, evoking childhood memories.
Drinking beverages with “light bulbs” is super fashionable — try matcha red bean milk or bubble tea!
The ultra-creative “light bulb bubble tea” became a hit starting from Qili Bay Pearl Milk Tea Cultural Hall in Su’ao, Yilan, and has now spread across Taiwan. Now you can enjoy it in Hualien, Changhua, and Tainan too. This trend has made drinking bubble tea from a light bulb a super fashionable thing to do. Don’t miss out if you want to try something new — check out where you can get it and join the trend!
EVA Airways Phoenix Hotel's Liangzhu Pot Hotpot Served — Taste All Four Famous Taiwanese Pork Breeds
Starting in March, Evergreen Phoenix Hotel (Jiaoxi) will introduce monthly themed hotpot dishes at its "Smoke & Wave Pavilion." The first series, "Liangzhu Pot Hotpot," features "Taiwan’s Certified Quality Pigs" as the main ingredients for hotpot. The selection includes four renowned Taiwanese pork breeds: Taiwan Seaweed Pig, Pingtung Barley Pig, Hualien Lees Pig, and Yunlin Pine-Scented Pig. The broth options include red, white, or a dual-flavor hotpot.
Limited-time Tokyo ramen offer: Get unlimited free chicken with every bowl of ramen!
Japan’s renowned ramen chain “Doutonbori Kamaza” is set to change its side menu offerings starting March 15. From now until March 14, they’re launching a promotion where you can enjoy unlimited free chicken with any bowl of ramen—but only at their Tokyo Dome City store.
Limited-time only！55 “Kumamon troops” take over Osaka Station
To commemorate the 5th anniversary of the direct connection between the Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines, 55 Kumamon plush toys have appeared in the JR Osaka Station Time Square, along with a giant Kumamon standing at 2 meters tall. The display runs from now until March 4th—hurry to snap your photos and check in！
Waiting for the bus? Bizarre roadside encounter on American road trip — two bears scratch their backs on a single pole
During an overseas road trip, besides admiring the vast natural scenery, you might sometimes come across wildlife putting on a cute show. Marcel Gross, a travel photographer passionate about animals and nature, captured an unforgettable sight during his 409-day journey across the Americas: two massive grizzly bears standing back-to-back, seemingly up to something mysterious. A closer look revealed they were actually scratching their backs on the same pole, prompting netizens to joke, “Waiting for the bus?”
Jog with rhinos on the African savannah！ Kenya’s marathon lets animals have the right of way first
Marathons aren’t just physical activities—they’re also a test of the spirit. In the Republic of Kenya in East Africa, there’s a race billed as the wildest ever: the “Safaricom Marathon,” where participants must run through a wildlife reserve, jogging alongside more than 100 rhinos, elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, and other animals on the African plains. Although armed guards patrol the route for protection, there’s still a risk of animal attacks！