Taiwanese aren’t afraid of being alone during New Year’s Eve — this way of celebrating sees a surprising 30% rise

The tranquil hot spring towns in Japan’s second-tier cities, with their combination of open-air baths and tatami-floored accommodations, have become top choices for Taiwanese seeking onsen experiences. (Photo provided by AsiaYo)

The underfloor heating system of Korean hanok homes uses a kang bed, where fire is lit beneath the floor to warm the room, so hanok buildings are typically elevated above ground level. (Photo provided by AsiaYo)

Counting down to the New Year is the perfect time for people to go out and have fun together, and what new experiences are trending this year? A travel accommodation booking platform has revealed four major trends among Taiwanese travelers during the New Year holiday period. Aside from Osaka being the most popular city for Taiwanese travelers this year, the enthusiasm for unique hot spring stays in Japan and Korea, as well as traditional Korean hanok homes, is notable. Meanwhile, the proportion of solo travelers from Taiwan has risen to 30%, making it an increasingly prominent travel style during the New Year break.

AsiaYo, a travel accommodation booking platform often dubbed the “Taiwanese version of Airbnb,” has released data on how Taiwanese are booking their New Year trips, analyzing nearly 5,000 bookings during the holiday period. In the past, bookings for New Year trips were mostly for rooms for two or more people, but this year the proportion of solo travelers has risen to 30%. Furthermore, nearly 70% of the design hotels and hostels on the platform had an occupancy rate nearing 100% during the year-end season.

Based on the platform’s New Year booking data from December 31 to January 1, excluding Taipei, the most popular domestic travel destinations are Tainan, Yilan, and Hualien. The top accommodation type booked was design hotels and hostels that allow mixed-gender stays, followed by homestays with a bar concept, and third were lodgings offering entire-property rentals, which provide more opportunities to interact with travelers from all walks of life — making them the top choices for backpackers and light travelers during the year-end season.

Additionally, aside from avoiding the hustle and bustle of city fireworks and temple bell-ringing ceremonies, two other unique types of accommodation have emerged as highly favored by Taiwanese travelers. In terms of guest numbers, the most popular Japanese ryokan-style hot spring hotels among Taiwanese are Hokkaido’s Yuno Onsen, Kyushu’s Yufuin (Yufuin Onsen), and Kanagawa Prefecture’s Hakone Onsen. The relaxed atmosphere of hot spring towns in second-tier cities, along with accommodations featuring open-air baths and tatami-matted floors, have become top choices for Taiwanese visiting Japan for onsen experiences recently. Lodgings near Kinryu Lake in Yufuin and traditional Japanese-style wooden cabins in Hakone have received widespread praise from travelers.

Traditional Korean hanok homes are also beloved for their classic decor and scientifically designed kang bed heating systems. The geothermal principle of the hanok kang bed involves lighting a fire beneath the floor to generate warmth, which is why hanok buildings are generally built higher than ground level. To stay warm, traditional setups use fewer beds and chairs, with daily life often taking place directly on the floor — a custom that continues today. In Seoul, near Gyeongbokgung Palace, there are many traditional hanok homes where you can open the windows to enjoy snow views. Classic hanok properties such as Sup Homestay and Hanok 201 remain top choices thanks to their charming traditional architecture. As the harsh winter of the New Year arrives, it’s the best time for travelers to experience the hanok kang bed heating system.

The survey found that the ratio of Taiwanese traveling abroad versus staying domestic for New Year celebrations is approximately 4:6. The top international destinations for New Year’s travel are Osaka, Tokyo, and Seoul. In terms of booking regions, Osaka bookings are concentrated around Universal Studios, Tokyo bookings are mostly near Disneyland, and in Korea, accommodations around Namsan Seoul Tower dominate. This shows that when Taiwanese travel abroad for New Year’s, their top choice of activity remains attending local fireworks and countdown parties.