Ranked third among the 50 most delicious ramen shops selected by the Japanese food website “Tabelog,” Menya Itto is set to open its first Taiwan branch on April 18. The shop’s rich seafood tsukemen, also known as the champion tsukemen, features a broth made by simmering chicken bones, chicken feet, chicken fat, ground meat, and five different types of seafood. It also offers Japan’s first low-temperature cooked chicken and pork char siu. Shop owner Mr. Sakamoto Yukihiko proudly stated that this type of tsukemen is not yet available in Taiwan.
Do you recall how, during typhoon season, TV news often reports, 'Due to typhoon cancellations, hundreds of passengers are stranded at the airport, fuming with anger, shouting and cursing ground staff...' In such situations, no matter how much you berate the staff, the thunderstorms preventing takeoff won’t clear up instantly. Instead, the smarter move is to calm down, think about grabbing a good meal or finding a comfortable place to wait for your next flight.
ANA’s Star Wars R2-D2 aircraft arrived at Taipei Songshan Airport from Tokyo Haneda at 15:43 today, marking the first-ever visit of the R2-D2 painted flight to Taiwan. Whether inside Songshan Airport or at popular plane-spotting spots such as Binjiang Street and the Produce Market, fans showed up with professional gear to capture the moment. The R2-D2 painted plane departed from Songshan Airport at 16:45.
A few days ago I made plans to meet up with a friend from Tucheng to discuss some things. He asked where we should meet, and I casually said, “Let’s do Tucheng—after all, I haven’t written about a single restaurant at that station yet XXD...” And so, the Tucheng Station MRT food series finally makes its debut (confetti). When I got there, I realized—it’s actually the very place we had tried to visit last year but couldn’t get in because it was fully booked? My friend told me the shop had recently reopened and expanded its interior.
Often seen in movies, where protagonists leisurely stroll down tree-lined roads, enjoying the breeze and a moment of relaxation, you can now experience this too on Route 174 in Xuejia, Tainan. The young leaves of the Chinese parasol trees along the Xuejia section of Route 174 have just begun to sprout, but thanks to their dense arrangement and interlacing greenery, the road has instantly transformed into a lush green tunnel. The longest stretch extends over 500 meters, making it a brand-new attraction in Xuejia.
The ANA Star Wars R2-D2 livery aircraft, which has thrilled aviation and Star Wars fans across Taiwan, made its first landing at Taipei Songshan Airport at 15:43 today. Not only does the plane feature the adorable and iconic R2-D2 robot design, but it also utilizes the 787-9 model, known as the “Dreamliner,” leaving many onlookers amazed.
In the past, sake labels typically featured fixed-format text or used more classic patterns. But in recent years, sake labels have become much more lively, and an increasing number of fun designs have emerged. The label is the first impression that the brewer presents to the drinker, so nowadays breweries are also thinking about how to convey the characteristics of their sake through the label. If you can guess the characteristics of the sake just from the label, you definitely should buy it — following your instincts will never steer you wrong.
In Taiwan, the cherry blossom varieties we often admire include Kanhi-zakura (early flowering cherry), Beni-shidare-zakura (pink mountain cherry), Yae-zakura (double-flowered cherry), and Yoshino cherry. We may also come across Showa-zakura, Kawazu-zakura, Formosa cherry, Wushan cherry, and Oshima cherry. But have you ever heard of Matsuyama cherry? Matsuyama cherry, a famous variety from Tokyo’s Arakawa Embankment, has an umbrella-shaped canopy and blooms around April. Now, there’s no need to go all the way to Tokyo — just head to Donghu Cherry Blossom Grove to get up close and personal with the blooming Yoshino and double-petal Matsuyama cherry blossoms.
Mount Tateyama and Kurobe Gorge have officially opened today. The long-awaited seasonal opening took place today, and during the inauguration ceremony, it was announced that this year’s Snow Wall in the Snow Valley stands at 13 meters high. Although slightly lower than last year’s, it remains no less spectacular and awe-inspiring.
This report points out that although travelers may have different destinations, overall, booking accommodation for summer holidays 2–5 months in advance yields the best prices. The well-known travel website TripAdvisor also mentions that, based on hotel booking records from 25 popular destinations, last-minute bookings don’t save you money.
New restaurants keep popping up non-stop. ETtoday EBC News Cloud has compiled a list of popular new restaurants that opened in Taipei in Q1 of this year (2016). Among them, it’s found that the new wave isn’t limited to eateries from Japan and Korea—there’s also an Italian dessert shop COVA, Chaofang Cantonese Dim Sum that originated in Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, as well as Mamak stalls brimming with Malaysian flavors.
Today (17th), strong winds in Tokyo have caused significant flight schedule disruptions, with multiple flights originally scheduled for departure in the afternoon experiencing delays. China Airlines Flight CI101 from Tokyo Narita to Taipei, originally scheduled to depart at 14:30 local time and arrive at 17:15, was delayed due to strong winds at the airport. Tram services in Tokyo were also suspended.
Flying while lying down—could this be every traveler’s dream? According to the UK’s Daily Mail, Italian seat manufacturer Geven has designed a “bed” that flattens airplane seats to address long-standing passenger demands and alleviate the stress of long-haul flights.
Tainan sees another innovative “bulb milk tea” launch by Up Tea Bar ! Cheng Zai Gua Bao combines the traditional dish “Gua Bao” with modern milk tea to roll out “blue and pink” bulb milk teas, served in almond milk and packaged in brightly colored glass bottles that are super eye-catching. Currently, the blue bulb milk tea is limited to one per person, with a daily cap of 66 bottles, available for sale promptly at 8 PM every night. The super adorable design has attracted many customers eager to try this new drink.
Lavender Forest in Xinshe, Taichung, home to Taiwan’s most iconic scenic restaurant, has now entered firefly season. The park is hosting the Xinshe-exclusive “Taichung Firefly Festival,” which kicked off today. Visitors can explore the little Milky Way in the mountains by registering on-site at 5 PM for a guided tour.
Super curry fans, look here!The wildly popular “Honke Taiwan Curry” from Kaohsiung has finally expanded northward, opening its second branch nationwide. By blending authentic Japanese-style curry with Taiwanese minced pork rice, the dish offers the fragrant aroma of Taiwan’s specially made spicy minced pork, along with the richness of Japanese curry—creating a uniquely delicious new curry flavor!Those with the spirit of competitive eaters can also take on the challenge of the six-person serving “Mega Curry.” Finish it all within 20 minutes, and you eat for free.
Low-cost carriers continue to enter Taiwan, not only competing for a share of the Japanese market but also turning their sights on Southeast Asia. Malaysian low-cost airline “Malindo Air” will also come to Taiwan, launching flights between Taipei (Taoyuan) and Kota Kinabalu, becoming the third low-cost carrier to operate the Kota Kinabalu route after AirAsia and Tigerair Taiwan, with services expected to begin in June.
The popular Japanese ramen shop Menya Itto is set to officially open its first Taiwan branch on April 18. However, due to the difficulty of perfectly replicating the taste of the original Japanese location, the shop’s president, Mr. Sakamoto Yukihiko, had never planned to open a second outlet. But after finding common ground with Taiwan-based agent Shin Tai on brand values and business philosophy, he made an exception to bring Menya Itto to Taiwan. Still, there will be only one branch, located in Zhongshan District, Taipei, with no plans for any additional locations elsewhere in Taiwan.
The major earthquake that struck Kumamoto, Japan, severely damaged the Aso and Oita regions, causing widespread devastation. Kumamoto Castle, known as the “Impregnable Castle,” also suffered extensive damage in the quake. Not only did several historic structures collapse, but parts of the stone walls beneath the keep also crumbled. The Kumamoto Castle Management Office estimates that it will take at least several decades to fully restore the castle.
Where can you take the most beautiful wedding photos? Consider the Xinyi Rose Garden in Taipei, which boasts tens of thousands of roses. With over 600 varieties of roses vying for attention, the garden features rare species as well as many romantic photo backdrops such as floral pathways, Greek pavilions, and heart-shaped flower arrangements. Since its opening, it has attracted countless couples to take wedding photos, making it a truly romantic destination.