Text by Chen Guanxin, MOOK Travel & Lifestyle
Taiwan’s most beautiful scenery is its people—the genuine kindness, empathy, and earnest attitude toward life of the Taiwanese people on this land, which is deeply moving and the true reason why people from around the world love Taiwan. The Rally Nippon, which is coming to Taiwan to hold a classic car island tour event, is the only classic car event organization in Japan officially recognized by the Japan Tourism Agency. Since its establishment on December 1, 2008, it has held a 4–5 day rally every October or November, traveling about 1,000 kilometers from Tokyo to Kyoto through various prefectures across Japan. The members of this organization are all celebrities who love classic cars, including the Japanese actor Takizawa Hideaki, who has a large fan base in Taiwan due to his roles in popular Japanese dramas such as “Tokyo Love Story,” NHK’s historical drama “Tenchijin,” and “White Tower,” as well as Japanese gagaku musician Tokiwazu Hidetoshi, who played Emperor Kōmei in “Atsuhime.”
![](\"/pic/20200314/8625f366ff39a9a57f549d154817b58f.jpg\")
Japan’s Classic Car Rally Around Taiwan will arrive in Kaohsiung today. (Photo provided by the Tourism Bureau, MOTC)
Mr. Kobayashi Yusuke, Representative Director of Rally Nippon, said that after the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, the Taiwanese people spontaneously and generously donated the largest and fastest relief funds among all countries. As Japanese people, we are truly grateful for this kindness and believe we should properly thank Taiwan. Therefore, we want to take concrete action by bringing the RALLY NIPPON event—previously held only in Japan—to Taiwan. We hope that through the grand tour of Taiwan by 60 classic cars, traveling around the entire island and walking on this land, we can personally say to the land and people of Taiwan: “Thank you!” We also aim to introduce the beauty of Taiwan and its local culture to the world, further promoting exchanges between Taiwan and Japan in various fields.
![](\"/pic/20200314/7bca242535aa701e6334eb2c8f4d6553.jpg\")
People across Taiwan will have the opportunity to witness the spectacular sight of 60 Japanese classic cars driving through the streets in the coming days. (Photo provided by the Tourism Bureau, MOTC)
The Tourism Bureau, MOTC, stated that to express gratitude to Taiwan, Rally Nippon began planning last year and conducted multiple site visits to prepare for the “RALLY NIPPON 2013 IN TAIWAN” event. Although Rally Nippon is a classic car rally, the competition is not about speed but precise time control. Participants must arrive at scenic spots accurately within the designated time according to the route book, and the route connects various historic sites and attractions, which is the main focus of the race. Completing the entire course in a classic car presents challenges in terms of the vehicle’s condition as well as the driver’s stamina and endurance.
The event route was finalized after multiple revisions by the Japanese organizing committee. On November 28 at 10:00 AM, 60 classic cars manufactured before 1974 will depart from the plaza in front of the Presidential Office. They will pass through Hsinchu, Taichung, Nantou, Yunlin, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Taitung, Hualien, Yilan, New Taipei City, and Taipei. On December 1, they will take a ferry from Hualien Port back to Su’ao Port in the north, then return to Taipei’s Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall via Provincial Highway 2 and Fulong. Over the four-day island tour, they will visit or stop at numerous historically significant buildings and natural attractions in Taiwan connected to Japanese history, such as the Grand Hotel, the plazas in front of the Hsinchu County and Taichung City governments, a parking lot near Zhubei City, the Sun Moon Lake Xiangshan Visitor Center, the Gukeng Rest Area, the Wushantou Eighty-Eight and One Memorial Park, the Kaohsiung World Trade Exhibition and Convention Center, the Pingtung Dapeng Bay Racing Circuit, the Pingtung Egret Highway Fanshan Recreation Area, the Taitung Native Plant Garden, the Guangfu Sugar Refinery, and the Sea Mining Exploration Museum. By following these traces, participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the land that nurtures such kind-hearted people, and it is hoped that this will promote the beauty of Taiwan and pass on the friendly relations between Taiwan and Japan to the next generation.
● Extended Reading:
Strolling along the Xinyi Line: Two Themed Tours for an In-Depth Experience of Taipei
http://goo.gl/R2Kwri