Tigerair launches its inaugural 3-day flight to Hanamaki Airport in Iwate Prefecture this year — your newest destination for autumn foliage and snow viewing!

▲ Tourism operators in Iwate Prefecture waved the flag of our country in the arrival hall of Hanamaki Airport to express their welcome, and even the local mascot “Soba-kun” held the Blue Sky with a White Sun flag to greet Taiwanese visitors. (Photo / Reporter Lü Xiaowen, same below)

Reporter Lü Xiaowen / Comprehensive Report

Japan’s northeastern region has always been a top choice for Taiwanese travelers seeking autumn foliage. According to statistics from the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, the average annual growth in the number of Taiwanese staying in Japan’s northeast region is 30–40%, making it the area with the highest increase in Japanese flight traffic from Taiwan.

Most Taiwanese travelers enter and exit Japan’s northeast through Sendai, but this year, Taiwan’s travel agency EasyTravel and Taiwan’s Tigerair collaborated to launch a chartered flight from Tigerair’s Hanamaki Airport.The inaugural flight on September 3rd offers a direct route to Hanamaki Airport in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan. This flight is specially designed to coincide with the autumn foliage and winter snow seasons in Japan’s northeast, operating twice a week from September this year until March next year.

▲ Hanamaki Airport deployed Iwate Prefecture’s mascot to welcome guests in the departure hall.

Iwate Prefecture went all out to dispatch mascots to receive the first group of Taiwanese arrivals at the arrival hall, and alsoraised the flag of the Republic of China in the arrival hall as a warm welcome. The airport corridor also featured the traditional “Tiger Dance” performed during local celebrations to convey blessings. This was not only to welcome the first batch of travelers arriving in Iwate Prefecture with Taiwan’s Tigerair, but also to pray for peace and prosperity in Taiwan-Japan relations.

According to Saito Mizuho, representative of Iwate Prefecture’s Tourism Division, “Hanamaki Airport is right at the center of the northeast region, so it’s very convenient for traveling anywhere nearby.Moreover, Iwate Prefecture boasts abundant tourism resources, convenient transportation, and is budget-friendly, making it ideal for office workers looking for a short getaway or for family trips. We hope more Taiwanese people will come visit Iwate.” Lin Chaojun, PR representative of Taiwan’s travel agency EasyTravel, added, “Hanamaki Airport has a great location and many hidden gems and UNESCO World Heritage Sites waiting to be explored. With weekend flights available, it’s perfect for a light trip.”

Local tourism operators in Iwate Prefecture also unanimously expressed the sentiment that “Iwate, surrounded by mountains and water, offers seafood, mountain produce, and breathtaking scenery. You can experience all the Japanese cuisine you’d want, and the scenic beauty found elsewhere in Japan is also here in Iwate. So we hope travelers who love Japan will make sure to visit the northeast region, centered around Iwate, this year.” Additionally,the Taipei route is currently the only international flight operating at Hanamaki Airport, highlighting the deep affection and trust that Japan’s northeast holds for Taiwan.


▲ Welcome signs for Taiwan are visible all over Hanamaki Airport.

▲ The famous sightseeing spot, Nekoi Gorge, also features numerous messages promoting Taiwan-Japan friendship.

▲ The boatmen at Nekoi Gorge knew they were carrying Taiwanese guests, so they specially placed the Blue Sky with a White Sun flag at the bow of the boat as a welcome gesture. (Photo / Reporter Lü Xiaowen)