Virtual reality (VR) has been a huge trend recently and is heavily promoted by many gaming companies. Now, the hospitality industry is also riding this wave. Both The Lalu Jiaoxi in Yilan and The Grand EDA in Kaohsiung have launched VR entertainment facilities during the summer break, aiming to attract families with children to come and have fun together.
For locals in Okayama, how can you truly appreciate Korakuen’s most beautiful side? Public Relations officer of Korakuen, Misaki Sakamoto, specially recommends the top 3 most scenic spots in Korakuen for visitors to refer to.
As July ushers in the summer vacation season, Taipei and New Taipei City kick off the first Saturday with performances across various districts. The lineup includes traditional fire-jumping fishing, outdoor concerts, jazz performances, and more—perfect for making the most of your holiday.
The firm yet refreshing texture of sashimi is one of those foods that instantly whets your appetite. Paired with rice, it adds to the feeling of fullness, leaving only satisfaction in its wake. But generally speaking, sashimi rice bowls rarely cost under NT$200. However, the following spots will change your perception. 《ETtoday Eastday News Cloud》 has handpicked 7 Taipei eateries offering incredibly high-value sashimi rice bowls, where you can enjoy thick, juicy sashimi rice for less than NT$200.
Just a two-hour flight from Taiwan, Hong Kong is an easy destination for both independent and group travelers—with convenient language access, transportation, shopping, dining, and even Disneyland. A three-day-two-night trip is all you need to enjoy Hong Kong.
Following the opening of the Rilakkuma-themed café at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taichung Zhonggang Store, another heavyweight queue-worthy eatery is set to meet the people of Taichung. Goo Juping, deputy store manager of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taichung Zhonggang Store, revealed that they have invited Taipei’s popular queue restaurants “Kinami Hannosuke” and “DimDimSum” to open outlets in Taichung, with an expected debut by the end of the year.
Following Cai Meng Duty-Free’s launch of Jo Malone sales at Taoyuan Airport in April, Ever Rich Duty Free Shop (f恒昌免税店) officially opened its Jo Malone duty-free store at the airport today (July 1). Compared to regular retail counters, duty-free prices can be 10–15% lower. For example, a 100ml perfume retailing for NT$4,600 is priced at NT$3,930 at the duty-free store, saving you NT$670 instantly.
Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture has long taken pride in producing and designing jeans, featuring a unique jeans street scene and a jeans shopping district. Recently, a local shop exclusively developed “jeans” ice cream, giving the dessert a blue appearance and a taste with hints of taro – quite a unique treat.
“Abeno Harukas” not only allows travelers to stand atop Japan’s tallest building and enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Osaka, but it also houses Japan’s largest Kintetsu Department Store. This article will introduce three souvenir and dessert shops that are available only in Osaka — some even have physical stores only here in all of Japan. Don’t miss these when you visit Abeno Harukas!
What? You can actually see people practicing archery at the Shilin Official Residence? Recently, six green sculptures shaped like sports from the 2017 Taipei Universiade—golf, basketball, soccer, weightlifting, fencing, and archery—have appeared at the main entrance of Shilin Official Residence Park. These lifelike and creatively designed works are highly eye-catching, giving the public a taste of the Universiade atmosphere in advance.
The Rilakkuma-themed café, Rilakkuma Café Taichung branch, officially opened on July 1. Even though the new Shin Kong Mitsukoshi store in Taichung didn’t open until 11 AM, people were already lining up early in the morning. Owner Chen Hong-zhou stated that the Rilakkuma Café Taichung branch is themed around “Sweet,” with a décor style that features a touch of light French classic elegance, filling the shop with a sweet and romantic atmosphere to satisfy fans’ girlish hearts. In addition, unlike the Taipei branch, the Taichung branch has introduced many new dessert items, among which the Rilakkuma Fruit Mille Crêpes is exclusive to Taichung.
In Chiang Rai, Thailand, there is a temple ranked the world’s second most beautiful—the Wat Rong Khun, locally known as the “Wat Rong Suea Ten” or “Wat Lung Khun Art Temple.” Both the temple buildings and surrounding landscaping are white, hence the name “White Temple.” The exterior sculptures and statues of the White Temple are exquisitely crafted, with fragments of glass inlaid on the white surface, making the entire complex sparkle brilliantly under the sunlight. There is only one designated path for visiting the White Temple, symbolizing that there is no turning back.
Thai artist Thawan Duchanee, with his unique artistic talent and vision, meticulously arranged his own works and years of collections within the houses he designed and built. Since the interiors were entirely decorated in black tones, and the collections predominantly featured black-themed motifs, while the exterior resembled a temple, it came to be known as the “Black House Museum,” or simply the “Black Temple.” Locals regard this place as a symbol of hell.
On the northwest beach of Guam, there is a beachfront BBQ restaurant facing the ocean with an unobstructed view — offering breathtaking daytime seascapes and gorgeous evening sunsets. Paired with the self-service grill and beer at the buffet, it’s simply a perfect match. In the evening, you can also enjoy a grand Chamorro performance show. All the highlights of Guam are gathered here, attracting many visitors.
Some say: Coming to Phu Quoc, even if you don’t go anywhere, just lounging on the beach is a delight. But waking up in the morning, enjoying a delicious breakfast in the warm morning light, and then indulging in the hotel’s complimentary entertainment facilities is also a great choice.
If you see someone walking around with a blood bag, don’t panic — it’s a wildly popular drink from a Tainan restaurant called the "blood bag beverage." Designed to look like a hospital IV drip bag, it actually contains a cool, blood-enriching bright red cranberry fruit vinegar.
Xiangyang Mountain Hut, located along the Jioming Lake National Trail, has recorded 10 separate incidents of Formosan black bears entering the hut since June 1. To prevent potential human-bear conflicts, the Taitung Forest District Office carefully evaluated the situation and consulted with experts and scholars before deciding to close Xiangyang Mountain Hut from July 10, 2016 to September 8, 2016.
Whether it’s Taiwanese businesses actively courting them or international brands eyeing the Taiwanese market, more and more renowned shops are opening branches here. Examples include Parisian bakery GONTRAN CHERRIER, set to officially open on July 8, and popular Korean churro chain Street Churros. Also debuting in June was BAKE CHEESE TART, whose cheese tarts reportedly sell in under two seconds each in Japan. Have you caught up with these three super-popular patisseries yet?
Nightlife has always been part of urban living, and with more and more restaurants staying open until the early hours, it's gradually changing our lifestyles. Recently, in a lane near the intersection of the Zuoying High-Speed Rail Station and the opposite side of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, a new BBQ shop opened. What caught our attention about this BBQ spot was its use of ten shipping containers to create a space with a light industrial design.
Summer’s here—what’s the most refreshing granita to enjoy? The teahouse "Zanmokuen" inside Okayama Castle in Japan has introduced an extraordinary granita made with a whole Okayama white peach. Available only seasonally from July to August during the white peach harvest, this treat features a whole peach paired with freshly shaved ice and syrup—just looking at it makes your mouth water.