Most ramen in Kyushu falls under the tonkotsu (pork bone broth) category, and of course, Kumamoto Black Tei Ramen in Kumamoto Castle is no exception. This ramen shop, established in 1957, was named “Black Tei” by its founder, Heihara Takeyoshi, who has loved drawing since childhood — particularly abstract art — and his favorite color was “black.”
When rain has been absent for too long, many places hold rain-prayer rituals, hoping that divine power will bring rainfall to relieve the land’s drought. In Uozu, Japan, there is a “Dragon Stone” about 2 meters long. Legend has it that throwing stones at it will prompt the sky to pour down rain.
The Pokémon craze continues to sweep the nation, and the hottest topic right now is “where the cherry blossoms have bloomed again!” Riding this wave of enthusiasm, Zhongfeng Farm has started releasing cherry blossom effects in the park every half hour, continuing all the way until the 28th. This allows visitors to quickly catch “Pokémon” and advance on their journey to becoming a Master.
Following the successive openings of the Cantonese restaurant "Moon View Lounge" (48th floor) and "Asia 49 Asian Cuisine & Lounge" (49th floor), the final restaurant in the "Mega 50 Dining & Banquet" complex — and also the tallest all-you-can-eat buffet in the country, the "50th Floor Café" — will officially open on August 25. Meal prices range from NT$780 to NT$980, with an opening special discount of NT$100 off for all time slots.
How can you save on accommodation costs when traveling to Japan and spend more on food, fun, and activities? ETtoday Eastday Travel Cloud has compiled 4 basic "Japan accommodation cost-saving methods" as a reference for those who want to explore Japan like a backpacker. However, please note that these money-saving tips are more suitable for major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.
The renowned Japanese dining brand Torijo from Chiba Prefecture, which currently operates three types of stores—Torijo Charcoal Grill, Torijo Seafood Restaurant, and Tsuki no Ie Donabe Rice—has been introduced to Taipei for the first time by the Mulinuo Dining Group. Under the exclusive overseas name “Torijo Robatayaki,” it combines the formats of the three original shop concepts along with an izakaya-style atmosphere to create a Taipei-exclusive “Authentic Charcoal Soul” style, emphasizing the use of carefully selected ingredients and traditional cooking techniques from the flagship stores.
Autumn has arrived before we know it. Starting September 2, Sheraton Taipei's Chanyuan, Qingkelou, and Taoshan have selected a variety of fresh live crabs and, through the skilled hands of their chefs, are offering a range of delicious crab dishes. These include Chanyuan’s Singapore-style Spicy & Sour Crab, Qingkelou’s Clay Pot Pickled Bamboo Shoots with Female Crab, and Taoshan’s customizable dishes featuring female crab, snow crab, and king crab.
If you’re looking to indulge in high-end teppanyaki in Taipei, Shanglin Teppanyaki is definitely your top choice—it’s even on the high-value restaurant list recommended by upscale socialites. You might think there’s a typo in this article? High-end teppanyaki vs. high value-for-money? What are we even talking about—how can those two go together? But no, we didn’t make a mistake. Who ever said high-priced teppanyaki always offers good value?
In group tours to South Korea, it’s common to see a business model where visiting shopping stops helps reduce tour costs. Recently, there have also been rumors that the South Korean government mandates group tours to visit shopping stops and subsidizes specific ones, that tour guides are assigned by the government, that the Ginseng Public Sales Office is government-run, or that the Korea Tourism Organization requires a photo attendant on the bus. In response, the Korea Tourism Organization stated that none of these claims are true.
Sukiyaki (SUKIYA) has been in the Taiwanese market for two years now, currently operating nine stores in Taipei City (Store No. 9, Minquan West Road Store, opened on July 10). Now, Sukiyaki is preparing to expand its reach to other counties and cities. According to recruitment information posted by Sukiyaki on job banks, they are currently hiring staff for the Cailiao Store in Sanchong District, New Taipei City (likely near Cailiao MRT Station), which is very likely to be their 10th store.
Pokémon can now be caught in Kinmen too. "Pokémon GO" was made available for download in Taiwan on the 6th, sparking a Pokémon craze across the island. However, Kinmen, located over 200 kilometers from Taiwan, did not show any Pokémon on the map, leaving locals very disappointed. But finally, on the afternoon of the 10th day after the game’s release, Pokémon became catchable in Kinmen, drawing crowds of players to the streets.
From fashion to food, the Taiwanese market has attracted countless Japanese brands in recent years, and now Tsutaya Books, renowned as the “world’s most beautiful bookstore,” is also coming to Taiwan. One of the most talked-about topics is the location for Tsutaya Books, and the latest news suggests that Hsinchu may be the chosen spot.
I impulsively booked a trip departing just two days later because of a photo of a winter mountain city shrouded in mist. It was my first time doing something like that — crazy, really, since all the last-minute transport and accommodation were prohibitively expensive. I guess it was the first time in my life I’ve been so spontaneous, but I desperately needed to recharge, which is how this trip came to be.
The National Taichung Theater is set to officially open on the 26th. To help the public better appreciate the charm of this “ninth greatest new landmark in the world,” the venue is offering three types of guided tours, with free admission for Taichung residents upon presenting valid ID.
The coin-operated snack craze that took southern Taiwan by storm earlier this year has now spread north, and now Sanchong District in New Taipei City has its very first “afternoon tea vending machine.” For just a few coins, you can enjoy 11 varieties of freshly made cheese daily—limited to 150 tubs per day, and once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Nantou has a new attraction to offer. The newly completed “Zhongtai World Museum” and its Woodcarving Annex have officially started trial operations to promote Buddhist art. Free admission is available to the public until September 14.
Tokyo is a timeless travel destination for Taiwanese visitors. This city of over 10 million people has a culture vastly different from Taiwan’s, and knowing the local etiquette before your trip can make your experience even more enjoyable. CNN has compiled an article titled “11 Things to Know Before Going to Tokyo,” which is highly worth referencing. In fact, it covers not only etiquette but also many smart travel tips.
You no longer have to worry about not finding a parking space when visiting the zoo. Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation, commissioned by the Taipei City Department of Transportation, has taken over the management of the underground parking lot at Taipei Zoo Station. Starting from the 17th, it will be open to the public, featuring 150 car parking spaces and 200 motorcycle parking spaces, providing parking services for visitors heading to the zoo and Maokong Gondola.
Following the launch of its Kaohsiung–Haikou route, Far Eastern Air will commence flights between Taichung and Harbin on August 18. Operating once a week, this route takes just over three hours to reach Harbin, the largest city in Northeast China and a top summer retreat.
Recently, a series of vibrant Disney-themed cakes have appeared on Instagram—not direct cartoon replicas, but unique, dreamlike cakes that incorporate the characteristics of the characters. While such cakes are not uncommon on foreign websites, they’re quite rare in Taiwan. The creator of these magical cakes is Vivian, an 8th grader (born in 1999) who’s only 23 years old this year.