Travel
The World’s Most Beautiful Café Florian – A Century-Old Venice Brand Opens in Taiwan
The renowned Italian brand known for having the world’s most beautiful café – Caffè Florian – is finally opening a branch in Taiwan. With a history of 300 years from Venice, Caffè Florian is expected to debut at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Xinyi New Life Square A9 in late March 2017, allowing the public in Taiwan to experience the charm of this legendary café. MOOK Travel introduces just how stunning this café located in Venice’s St. Mark’s Square truly is.
Hop on a fairy-tale train — a new travel choice in Ruisui
The Huatung Valley has long been one of Taiwan’s most famous scenic landmarks, stretching 180 kilometers from north to south, a stunning geological formation created by tectonic compression. The attraction we’re introducing today is a new highlight in Ruisui Township, Hualien. While Ruisui is perhaps best known for...
Adorable animals that melt your heart – The super-popular hedgehog café
Japanese creativity knows no bounds, and traveling in Japan often leads to discovering surprising attractions that bring delight. This time, Attractions Editor introduces a unique café located in Tokyo’s Roppongi area – HAR...
Brown Bear, Rabbit, and Brown Girl are here for the opening of Taiwan's first LINE Cafe & Store!
Taiwan’s first LINE FRIENDS Cafe & Store opened on December 23, drawing crowds outside the door early in the morning. Following the launch of the LINE FRIENDS STORE travel concept shop at Taipei Main Station in December 2015, the end of 2016 sees the debut of a new store that combines takeout coffee with the LINE FRIENDS Cafe & Store. Themed around Brown Bear’s younger sister “CHOCO’s House,” it presents a fashionable pink boutique. In addition to seeing super-cute LINE characters like Brown Bear, Rabbit, and Shakin, visitors can also enjoy the sweet atmosphere created by Brown Girl.
Transforming spaces: turning the ordinary into the extraordinary A curated selection of Taiwan’s top five container designs
The reuse and transformation of spaces has become a trend in recent years, and Taiwan has seen a growing number of such new attractions. From the renovation of abandoned spaces to the colorful revitalization of old neighborhoods, these once-dilapidated buildings and streets have been brought back to life, transforming into...
Exclusive Revelation of Hidden Gems: Top 5 Photo Spots at Christmas Town
A special lighting team from Singapore, recognized by the Guinness World Records, was invited to create the most dazzling Christmas Town in New Taipei City. This year, the New Taipei City Government has not only rolled out a 3D light show for Christmas but also lined up concerts, amusement rides, and other major highlights...
Christmas Light Festival in Hamasen Illuminates Kaohsiung’s Skyline
The Kaohsiung Christmas Light Festival kicks off colorfully on December 22nd. The Pier-2 Art Center hosts DIY activities and picnics under the theme “2016 Pier-2 Christmas Art,” while the Starry Sky Light Sea along Binhai Road Section 1 and the eco-friendly transportation-themed light displays on Binhai Road Section 2 are also must-sees...
2016 Japan’s No.1 Breakfast: Energy-Boosting Chazuke
Japan offers a diverse array of cuisines, from ramen to traditional Japanese dishes, but one must-try is the hearty hotel breakfast. The 7th "Rakuten Travel Breakfast Festival," hosted by the Rakuten Travel lodging website, selected the top breakfast from 1,500 entries...
Breathtaking nighttime Christmas illuminations at a Japanese theme park, with a surprising view of Taipei 101
Japanese Christmas and winter light-up spots are always full of fresh ideas. In 2016, Tobu World Square (Tobu W?rudo Sukuwea), featuring world-famous architectural landmarks including 45 World Heritage sites, is like...
Latest News: Executive Yuan Approves One Additional National Holiday in 2017
In the 1980s, Taiwanese political activist and commentator Deng Nan-jung advocated for complete freedom of speech, democratization, and actively promoted the independence movement. On the early morning of April 7, 1989...
Winter-Limited Strawberry Trifle — Tainan’s Coziest Café
Looking for a quiet spot to relax on a leisurely afternoon, snap some photos, listen to music, enjoy delicious light bites, and soak in a peaceful atmosphere? Tainan has a delightful café that offers more than you’d expect — featuring Japanese-inspired Western-style brunches, house-roasted coffee, ...
Taiwan's tallest Ferris wheel — the new Sky Dream check-in landmark at Lihpao
One of this year’s key new landmarks, Lihpao OUTLET MALL began its trial operation on the 24th, featuring Taiwan’s largest Ferris wheel, “Sky Dream.” Although many areas were not yet open during the trial period, it still attracted...
Year-End Trip Guide: Taiwan’s Top 5 Must-See Fireworks Shows
As 2016 draws to a close, the world has begun gearing up for its final celebrations of the year. To bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one, cities everywhere are preparing all kinds of New Year's Eve events, including fireworks...
Typhoon Nock-ten intensifies; weather turns colder after Christmas
Surprisingly, a typhoon has formed in December, with Typhoon Nock-ten (international name: NOCK-TEN), the 26th of the year, strengthening into a severe typhoon. Its center is located at 13.1 degrees north latitude and 12...
Breathtaking Views of Japan’s Second-Highest Lake: The Spectacular Winter Light Festival at Lake Haruna
Lake Haruna is a well-known scenic spot in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. In addition to its beautiful natural landscapes, it is close to the Ikaho Onsen hot spring area, making it a highly worthwhile destination for visitors to experience Japan’s natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere. Every winter...
Relive the cherry blossoms of Tokyo's Meguro River in spring, and the romantic winter Christmas lights that are hugely popular
Central Meguro was very lively in the winter of 2016. Not only were the spring cherry blossoms a major draw, but in 2016, with the new "Meguro Elevated Area" established beneath Meguro Station, featuring cultural and creative spots such as Tsutaya Bookstore and Starbucks...
New Year Travel Recommendations: Global Ranking of the Most Charming Cities
Recently, a well-known American travel magazine conducted a reader poll to vote for the most charming cities in the world outside of the United States. The results have been released, showing some changes from last year’s rankings. Last year’s champion, Italy, dropped to third place this year, while Kyoto took second...
Must-Try Rich Fruit Smoothies in Winter: Five Dreamy Strawberry Drinks Across Taiwan
Winter is strawberry season. In Taiwan, the peak strawberry production period lasts roughly from November to April of the following year, and this is also when dessert shops roll out their seasonal specialties. Below are five carefully selected drink shops and restaurants across Taiwan by HowToTrip...
Major fire breaks out in Niigata, Japan, engulfing 140 buildings
A major fire broke out in Yuzawa City, Niigata Prefecture, on the 22nd when thick smoke emerged from a restaurant in the shopping street area. Fueled by 10-level gusts of wind at the scene, the flames rapidly spread across the city, burning for over...
Spend the whole day at the hotel Carefully selected five distinctive accommodations across Taiwan
When traveling for an extended period, you might sometimes feel tired and weary from visiting scenic spots every day. At times like these, all you want is to stay in a hotel or homestay, enjoy a leisurely afternoon, and experience the true relaxation of a vacation. Scenic Spots Family has handpicked...