Travel Taipei with AKB48 – The New Japanese “Girls’ Gathering” Trend!

▲ The Taipei City Tourism and Communications Bureau promoted Taipei in Japan and held a press conference at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo on the 12th, inviting AKB48 members to share their Taipei experiences and try mango shaved ice. (Photo / Provided by Taipei City Government Tourism and Communications Bureau)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

To promote Taipei, the Taipei City Tourism Bureau attended the “2013 Tokyo World Travel Fair” in Japan and specially invited the popular Japanese idol group AKB48 to appear at a press conference held on the 12th at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo. Members introduced smart new ways to enjoy the “Chic (Stylish & Cute) Girls’ Gathering ♥ TAIPEI” concept, which was inspired by the rising trend of “girls’ gatherings” in Japan in recent years, aiming to attract more Japanese tourists to visit Taipei following in the footsteps of AKB48.

Yu Shuhui, deputy secretary-general of the Tourism and Communications Bureau, said that in recent years Japan has seen a rise in gatherings mainly among young single women, known as “girls’ gatherings.” According to Japanese media reports, participants in such gatherings choose cute or stylish restaurants and hotels, share their lives and current interests, and even plan overseas trips together. With an eye on the market of trendy Japanese women in their late 20s and 30s who love all things new and fashionable, the Tourism Bureau launched “Chic (Stylish & Cute) Girls’ Gathering ♥ TAIPEI,” divided into three major themed itineraries: “Beginner’s Edition,” “Intermediate Edition,” and “Advanced Edition.” The Tourism and Communications Bureau specially invited AKB48 members to appear again this time, hoping that through their introduction, Taipei’s stylish and fashionable image will become the top overseas choice for Japanese girls’ gatherings.

At the press conference on the 12th, attending members included AKB48’s Maria Abe, who came to Taipei in July this year to film a tourism promotional video, along with the hugely popular Mayu Watanabe, Minami Takahashi, as well as Yokoyama Yui and Nagao Mariya, who are fans of Taipei cuisine. They openly shared their experiences exploring Taipei and their impressions of the city.

▲ The Taipei City Tourism and Communications Bureau presented the Taipei Pass tourist passport to the attending AKB48 members, inviting them to bring their best friends to Taipei for a “Chic & Cute Girls’ Gathering” trip. (Photo / Provided by Taipei City Government Tourism and Communications Bureau)

The AKB48 members all said that Taipei is not only a friendly city for travelers, but also very convenient in terms of transportation between attractions. Maria Abe, who came to Taiwan in July this year to film a Taipei tourism promotion video, said she felt that every tourist attraction in Taipei had its own unique charm. For example, playing the role of a local in Mengjia’s Bopiliao Historic Block, soaking in hot springs in Beitou while enjoying gourmet food and singing karaoke left a deep impression on her.

Yokoyama Yui and Nagao Mariya said that when a group of girls go out together, apart from sightseeing, eating and shopping are the most important activities, so they were particularly interested in the food recommendations in the “Beginner’s Edition” of the Taipei Girls’ Gathering and the creative shops and shopping areas in the “Intermediate Edition.” Meanwhile, under the introduction by Yu Shuhui, Mayu Watanabe expressed interest in seeing the real panda cub Yuan Zai in Taipei; Minami Takahashi felt that travel must include buying souvenirs for friends to share the joy of the trip.

Since Maria Abe had previously praised the delicious taste of Taipei’s mango shaved ice, the press conference specially prepared mango shaved ice for the AKB48 members to demonstrate making it. During the process, Mayu Watanabe and Minami Takahashi were attracted by the aroma of the mangoes and the sweet condensed milk, and couldn’t wait to take photos and group pictures before trying the delicious treat.

The Tourism and Communications Bureau also specially gifted the attending AKB48 members with Taipei souvenirs including pineapple cakes, Muzha Tieguanyin tea, and the Taipei Pass tourist passport, inviting them to come to Taipei with their best friends for a “Chic & Cute Girls’ Gathering” trip.